Austin FC has announced an agreement with Red Star Belgrade for the transfer of 25-year-old Ghanaian international winger Osman Bukari.
Bukari joins Austin FC as a Designated Player on a three-and-a-half-year guaranteed contract through the end of the 2027 season with an option for 2028.
The deal is pending receipt of Bukari’s ITC and P-1 visa.
Bukari arrives in Austin after spending the last two seasons with Red Star Belgrade in Serbia. Bukari had 25 goals and 20 assists in 78 appearances across all competitions as Red Star won back-to-back Serbian league titles and back-to-back Serbian Cups.
In the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League, Bukari provided two goals and two assists. He scored away against then-defending Champions League winners Manchester City FC, and netted a late equalizer against Swiss side BSC Young Boys.
Bukari’s top speed was clocked as the tenth fastest of all players in the 2023-24 Champions League group stage. The season prior, Bukari was named Man of the Match for recording three goals and one assist in Red Star’s Champions League qualifying win over Pyunik.
At the international level, Bukari is a regular for the Ghana Men’s National Team and represented Ghana at both the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the 2023 African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
Bukari scored a World Cup goal in Ghana’s match against Portugal and played 45 minutes vs. Uruguay at the tournament. Bukari has made 17 senior international appearances for Ghana to date with three goals and two assists to his name.
Bukari will occupy Senior, International, and Designated Player spots on the Austin FC roster.