Academy development → elite U19 football → Antequera CF → Betis Deportivo → Real Zaragoza
A long term NEXTGEN player journey from teenage development in Europe to senior Spanish football, including Antequera CF, Betis Deportivo and a 2026 transfer to Real Zaragoza.
The purpose of this story is not to credit one organisation for a player’s career. The player’s talent, discipline, adaptability and persistence remain central. NEXTGEN’s role is to help create a safer, clearer pathway around that work.
After trial periods with FC Utrecht and FC Emmen, Mawuli’s age and registration situation limited his ability to enter regular competitive football in the Netherlands. Rather than returning immediately to Ghana, a donor backed a structured academy route in Spain.
The Spanish route centred on education, regular academy training, high quality friendly matches and patience while Mawuli matured physically, tactically and personally. The goal was development, not buying a contract.
Once eligible for official competition, he played for CD Vázquez Cultural in Marbella in División de Honor Juvenil, then the highest national level of U19 football in Spain. This gave him competitive European experience against strong youth teams.
Mawuli then joined Antequera CF, where he established himself in senior Spanish football. His development there created the platform for a move to Betis Deportivo in 2023.
Real Betis and Real Zaragoza agreed Mawuli’s transfer in February 2026 after his time with Betis Deportivo. The move took him into a Segunda División first team environment, another major step in his development. Real Zaragoza later announced his departure after the 2025/26 season, so we present the transfer as a verified 2026 milestone rather than his current club.
A responsible pathway sometimes means slowing the process down. The key intervention was not a single trial; it was creating enough stability and development time for the player to become ready when senior opportunities arrived.
