{{Short description|Ghanaian professional footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Joseph Esso | image = | fullname = Joseph Esso | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|12|10|df=yes}} | birth_place = Accra, Ghana | height = 172 cm | currentclub = Negeri Sembilan | clubnumber = 11 | position = Forward | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 2016–2018 | clubs1 = Ebusua Dwarfs | caps1 = 41 | goals1 = 9 | years2 = 2018–2020 | clubs2 = Hearts of Oak | caps2 = 42 | goals2 = 11 | years3 = 2020–2021 | clubs3 = Dreams Dawu | caps3 = 18 | goals3 = 12 | years4 = 2021–2023 | clubs4 = MC Alger | caps4 = 65 | goals4 = 11 | years5 = 2024–2025 | clubs5 = Dreams Dawu | caps5 = 42 | goals5 = 13 | years6 = 2025– | clubs6 = Negeri Sembilan | caps6 = 11 | goals6 = 6 | nationalyears1 = 2017 | nationalteam1 = Ghana A' | nationalcaps1 = 1 | nationalgoals1 = 2 | pcupdate = 24 December 2025 | ntupdate = }}

'''Joseph Esso''' (born 10 December 1996) is a Ghanaian footballer who plays as a forward for Malaysia Super League club Negeri Sembilan.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hemans|first=Francis|date=2021-02-11|title=Joseph Esso has no regrets exchanging Hearts of Oak for Dreams FC|url=https://3news.com/joseph-esso-has-no-regrets-exchanging-hearts-of-oak-for-dreams-fc/|access-date=17 March 2021|website=3news|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Club career ==

=== Ebusua Dwarfs === Esso played for Ebusua Dwarfs from 2016 to 2018 before signing for Accra Hearts of Oak in 2018.<ref name=":022">{{Cite web |last=Teye |first=Prince Narkortu |date=27 August 2020 |title=Joseph Esso: Dreams FC announce signing of former Hearts of Oak attacker |url=https://www.goal.com/en-gh/news/joseph-esso-dreams-fc-announce-signing-of-former-hearts-of/umgw8svai0zy1ocyvm6pwurr8 |access-date=17 March 2021 |website=www.goal.com}}</ref> He made 25 appearances and scored 9 goals in the 2017 Ghanaian Premier League season to help the club finish fourth.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Appiah|first=Samuel Ekow Amoasi|date=19 February 2018|title=Joseph Esso Signs For Hearts of Oak|url=https://www.modernghana.com/sports/836067/joseph-esso-signs-for-hearts-of.html|access-date=17 March 2021|website=Modern Ghana|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=19 February 2018|title=Hearts of Oak sign Joseph Esso - Kickgh.com|url=https://www.kickgh.com/ghana-premier-league/4611-hearts-of-oak-sign-joseph-esso|access-date=17 March 2021|website=www.kickgh.com|language=en-gb}}</ref><ref name=":022"/>

=== Accra Hearts of Oak === On 19 February 2018, after his contract expired, Esso joined Accra Hearts of Oak on a free transfer signing a 3-year contract with the club.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gyamera-Antwi|first=Evans|date=20 February 2018|title=Hearts sign Joseph Esso in a three-year deal {{!}} Goal.com|url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/hearts-sign-joseph-esso-in-a-three-year-deal/1v8fiaud75uyt1m9jwgufix5dd|access-date=17 March 2021|website=www.goal.com}}</ref> He played for Hearts for three seasons making 42 league appearances and scoring 11 goals.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Joseph Esso - Soccer player profile & career statistics - Global Sports Archive|url=https://globalsportsarchive.com/people/soccer/joseph-esso/115926/|access-date=17 March 2021|website=globalsportsarchive.com}}</ref>

=== Dreams Dawu === In 2020, Esso refused to extend his contract with Hearts after it expired. He was linked with a move to Sudanese club Al-Hilal.<ref name=":022"/> On 21 August 2020, he signed a two-year deal with Dreams Dawu.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Quansah|first=Edna A.|date=27 August 2020|title=Joseph Esso signs two-year deal with Dreams FC|url=https://www.gna.org.gh/1.18663180|access-date=17 March 2021|website=www.gna.org.gh|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|date=27 August 2020|title=OFFICIAL: Joseph Esso signs a two-year deal with Dreams FC|url=https://www.mynewsgh.com/official-joseph-esso-signs-a-two-year-deal-with-dreams-fc/|access-date=17 March 2021|website=MyNewsGh|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":022"/>

=== MC Alger === On 18 April 2021, Esso moved to Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 club MC Alger. He make his debut on 4 May in a 2–1 win over USM Bel Abbès. He scored his first goal for the club and also providing an assist in a 3–2 win over ES Sétif on 28 June. On the last matchday of the season, Esso captained the club where he went on to scored his first career hat-trick in a 4–4 draw against NA Hussein Dey on 24 August.<ref>{{cite web |date=19 April 2021 |title=MCA : Joseph Esso signe officiellement |url=http://www.dzfoot.com/2021/04/19/mca-joseph-esso-signe-officiellement-202099.php}}</ref>

=== Negeri Sembilan === On 16 July 2025, Esso moved to Malaysia to sign with Malaysia Super League club Negeri Sembilan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jalil |first=Mohd Amin |date=2025-07-18 |title=Esso perkasa serangan NSFC |url=https://www.hmetro.com.my/arena/bola-sepak/2025/07/1241922/esso-perkasa-serangan-nsfc |access-date=2025-08-02 |website=Harian Metro |language=en}}</ref> He scored on his debut in a 5–3 lost to Johor Darul Ta'zim on 12 August.<ref>{{Cite web |title=JOSEPH ESSO – Negeri Sembilan Football Club |url=https://www.nsfc1923.com/player/joseph-esso/ |access-date=2025-09-07 |website=www.nsfc1923.com}}</ref>

== International career == Esso featured for Ghana A' national team, the Local Black Stars at the 2019 WAFU Cup of Nations scoring two goals to help Ghana place runner-up in the competition.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Quao|first=Nathan|date=14 October 2019|title=Joseph Esso grateful for 2019 WAFU Cup experience|url=https://citisportsonline.com/2019/10/14/joseph-esso-grateful-for-2019-wafu-cup-experience/|access-date=17 March 2021|website=Citi Sports Online|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2 October 2019|title=2019 WAFU: Striker Joseph Esso wins man of the match in Black Star B opener against Gambia|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/2019-WAFU-Striker-Joseph-Esso-wins-man-of-the-match-in-Black-Star-B-opener-against-Gambia-785498|access-date=17 March 2021|website=ghanaweb.com|language=en}}</ref> He was named in the competition's team of the tournament<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kwafo|first=Eric Nana Yaw|date=21 October 2019|title=2019 WAFU Cup: Ghanaian Trio Included In Team Of The Tournament|url=https://www.modernghana.com/sports/962592/2019-wafu-cup-ghanaian-trio-included-in-team-of.html|access-date=17 March 2021|website=Modern Ghana|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2 October 2019 |title=2019 WAFU: Striker Joseph Esso wins man of the match in Black Star B opener against Gambia |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/2019-WAFU-Striker-Joseph-Esso-wins-man-of-the-match-in-Black-Star-B-opener-against-Gambia-785498 |access-date=17 March 2021 |website=www.ghanaweb.com |language=en}}</ref> and recognized as one top performers during the competition.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dove|first=Ed|date=11 October 2019|title=WAFU Cup of Nations: Five players who are ready for a European transfer|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/3962854/wafu-cup-of-nations-five-players-who-are-ready-for-a-european-transfer|access-date=17 March 2021|website=ESPN.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Appiah |first=Samuel Ekow Amoasi |date=15 October 2019 |title=Joseph Esso Elated With WAFU Experience |url=https://www.modernghana.com/sports/961189/joseph-esso-elated-with-wafu-experience.html |access-date=17 March 2021 |website=Modern Ghana |language=en}}</ref>

== Personal life == Esso is the younger brother of fellow professional footballer Eric Esso who is currently playing for Philippines Football League club Kaya–Iloilo as of 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Abacha|first=Saani|date=19 October 2020|title=Blood Brothers : Meet The Blood Brothers Set To Grace The 2021 Ghana Premier League|url=https://www.442gh.com/blood-brothers-meet-the-blood-brothers-set-to-grace-the-2021-ghana-premier-league/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201219061156/https://www.442gh.com/blood-brothers-meet-the-blood-brothers-set-to-grace-the-2021-ghana-premier-league/|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 December 2020|access-date=17 March 2021|website=442 GH|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":03">{{Cite web|last=Kwafo|first=Eric Nana Yaw|date=17 December 2019|title=Eric Esso: Ashgold To Sign Joseph Esso's Brother|url=https://www.modernghana.com/sports/974309/eric-esso-ashgold-to-sign-joseph-essos-brother.html|access-date=17 March 2021|website=Modern Ghana|language=en}}</ref>

== Career statistics == === Club === {{Updated|25 October 2025}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |+ ! rowspan="2" |Club ! rowspan="2" |Season ! colspan="3" |League ! colspan="2" |Cup ! colspan="2" |League Cup ! colspan="2" |Continental ! colspan="2" |Total |- !Division !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals |-

|Negeri Sembilan |2025–26<ref>{{Cite web |title=Joseph Esso 2025–26 statistics |url=https://www.malaysianfootballleague.com/Home/Sport?&WHurl=%2Fcompetition%2Fall%2Fperson%2F1178202 |access-date=26 December 2025 |website=malaysianfootballleague}}</ref> |Malaysia Super League |11 |6 |4 |2 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— |15 |8 |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{GSA player|joseph-esso/115926}} * {{Soccerway|438765}}

{{Negeri Sembilan FC squad}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Esso, Joseph}} Category:1996 births Category:Living people Category:Ghanaian men's footballers Category:Ghana men's international footballers Category:Cape Coast Ebusua Dwarfs players Category:Accra Hearts of Oak S.C. players Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:MC Alger players Category:Dreams F.C. players Category:Negeri Sembilan FC players Category:Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 players Category:Ghana Premier League players Category:Malaysia Super League players Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Algeria Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Malaysia Category:Ghanaian expatriate sportspeople in Algeria Category:Ghanaian expatriate sportspeople in Malaysia Category:Ghanaian expatriate men's footballers Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:21st-century Ghanaian sportsmen

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