Mohammed Salisu’s journey to becoming a prominent footballer is a tale of resilience, ball passion, and determination. Born in Kumasi, Ghana, into a humble family, Salisu grew up as the eldest of three brothers. His mother played a crucial role in raising the family after his father left, shouldering the heavy burden of both parenting and providing. Despite his love for football, his mother was initially opposed to his passion, going as far as destroying his only pair of boots in hopes of steering him back to education.
Humble Beginnings: Mohammed Salisu’s Journey from Kumasi to European Football
Inspired by football icons like Sergio Ramos and Samuel Umtiti, young Mohammed—known by his nicknames “Moha,” “Sariki,” and “The Wall of Valladolid”—remained determined to pursue his dream. Although he admired these stars, his path to success was riddled with challenges. Still, the Kumasi-born athlete never lost sight of his roots, carrying the legacy of his grandfather and embracing the strength of his Ashanti heritage.
From playing barefoot in the streets of Kumasi to defending with pride on Europe’s grand stages, Salisu’s story is one of humble beginnings, familial loyalty, and an unwavering commitment to his dreams.
To spark your interest in Mohammed Salisu’s captivating life story, we’ve curated a visual snapshot of his remarkable journey. This gallery takes you through the African footballer’s transformation—from his childhood in Ghana to the professional heights he’s reached as an adult. Each image tells a piece of his story, showcasing the challenges and triumphs that shaped him along the way.
Life Journey of Mohammed Salisu in Pictures: From Humble Beginnings in Ghana to Football Stardom.
Mohammed Salisu Childhood Story:
For Biography staters, he uses the nickname “Moha, Sariki, and the wall of Valladolid.” Mohammed Salisu Abdul Karim was born on the 17th of April 1999 to his parents- Mr and Mrs Salisu. His birthplace is in Ghana.
The Premier League footballer is the first child of his parents. According to research, Salisu has two younger brothers. Before we proceed, here is the image of Mohammed’s mother.
Meet Mrs Salisu as she Stands Beside her son. You can see that her first son got his looks from her.
Growing-Up:
Mohammed Salisu Abdul Karim was born and grew up in Kumasi, Ghana. The player came from a humble family background. With both his younger brothers and his mother and father. You can describe it as one big and happy household.
A Rare Photo of Moha in his Hometown.
After some time with his parents, Mohammed’s dad left the family. It was a sad moment for the young Salisu and his brothers. Yet, the happy times he spent with his father are not forgotten.
You can only imagine the days of running around Abdul Karim and his brothers. Most of all, they had something in common- football. Besides the sound of joy and happiness, Mrs Salisu always ensured her kids were cared for.
Mohammed Salisu’s Early Life:
How did football come to the Ghana athlete? It was from his grandfather, who is a former player of the Kotoko team. He even won the AFCON title during his sports era. Here is the photo of the late champ, as they bear the same name and have one career.
Meet the Late Mohammed Salisu’s Grandfather.
Thus, the football gene was transferred to the grandson of the family. It was no doubt a fascinating moment for Mr Salisu to see his first son love soccer. It would have brought memories of when his dad was alive and still a footballer.
But Mrs Salisu didn’t find the new talent as appealing as her husband had. At first, when Mohammed’s dad was still around, she tolerated it. But when he left, all Abdul Karim’s mother wanted was a sound education for her child.
According to an interview in Football Ghana, the African defender didn’t listen. Moha did everything he could not ditch playing sports. Even when his mom destroyed his boots, he didn’t back down. The streets and sands of Kumasi were always Karim’s home from dawn to dusk.
Mohammed Salisu’s Family Background:
Abdul Karim didn’t grow up wealthy like Giovanni Simeone and Antoine Griezmann. In fact, it was the exact opposite. His humble beginnings have always been a driving force for him. Things were a little more manageable when Mr Salisu was still in the family picture as the head of the house.
But, the story changed for the worse when Mohammed’s dad left. Mrs Salisu was saddled with caring for the entire family. And making sure that her children’s education was not left out. With the daily struggle, you can understand why she wanted Moha to get sound learning.
According to the African athlete, in his words, growing up was difficult. Karim needed help, even to afford football boots for his sports. Thus, Mohammed’s family was poor and struggled to get by with their basic needs.
Family Life:
Abdul Karim has always told the world about his family. And how he wouldn’t be here without the sacrifices they made. The Southampton defender is forever indebted to his mother and siblings for sticking to his dreams. So let’s get to know about them one after the other.
About Mohammed Salisu’s Father:
Mr. Salisu is the son of one of the greatest footballers in Ghana. His father, Mohammed, even led his team to an Afcon victory. And no doubt it would have been a joy for him when his first son went on the same path. But we need an image of what Abdul’s dad looks like.
Even though his son was on his way to greatness, there was no record of why Mohammed Salisu’s father left the family. However, We assumes it could have been because of some irreparable problems in the family. Yet, if he is still alive, he would be proud of who his child has become today.
About Mohammed Salisu’s Mother:
A mother shields the child from the dangers and cold hands of the wicked world, which Mrs. Salisu was doing all along. It was heartbreaking for her to lose her husband and take up all the loads of the three boys in the family. Here is the image of Sariki’s mum.
Behold the woman who gave life to the Southampton defender.
In her mind and thoughts, Mohammed Salisu’s mother wanted her son to be educated and take good care of the family by getting a good job. Every woman dreams of seeing her children grow to be responsible and trustworthy. Thus, schooling was paramount in her kids’ life to meet all these.
So it made no sense to Mrs. Salisu when her first son, Karim, chose football over school. You can only imagine the several times she must have flogged Moha. Besides destroying the only boots, he had for his training. Today, Mohammed’s mom has accepted that her child is responsible. And even encourages her other kids to join.
About Mohammed Salisu’s Brothers:
According to MyJoyOnline, the defender has two younger brothers. And Moha is the eldest child in the family. No doubt the other Salisu boys grew up watching their brother and mother fight for school and football. Despite all the research done in this bio, there are no photos of Mohammed Salisu’s brothers.
Yet, in an interview, the ex-Valladolid player tells us about the progress of his household. Sariki reveals that one of his brothers is a left-foot athlete in a football academy. Also, the oldest son of Mrs. Salisu is already pitching his younger one to the big. It is one advantage of having an elder sibling.
More interesting is that Mohammed’s mom no longer beats her sons as they go into football. It is not for how long, but for how well. Today, fans are glad that the African centre-back is again putting his family on the football map.
About Mohammed Salisu’s Grandfather:
The family of the Southampton teammate is not new to the football world. The first person in the lineage who brought soccer to the house was Moha’s grandfather. Surprisingly, he bears the same name as him.
The Senior Salisu was a Footballer as well.
Mohammed Salisu Sr was a leftwinger on the Asante Kotoko team before joining the Black Stars. In either club, the late athlete was a superb player known to keep his head down when playing. It was a unique style because he knew his opponent’s socks beforehand.
Family Origin:
In a word, the defender is a full-bred African man. Besides, both his parents- Mr. and Mrs. Salisu, are also from the Western part of Africa. At the same time, Mohammed Salisu was born in Kumasi, Ghana. Here is the map showing his birthplace’s location in the world.
Behold Mohammed Salisu’s Hometown in Kumasi, Ghana.
What do we know about Moha’s country? Ghana is on the Gulf of Guinea with neighbours like Burkina Faso, Togo, and Ivory Coast. Moreover, it is a nation of forests, sandy beaches, and various foods. So, Mohammed Salisu’s Nationality is Ghanaian. They are also famous for their gold, cocoa, and economic boom.
Mohammed Salisu’s Ethnicity:
Moha comes from the African race. In Kumasi, the prominent is the Ashanti tribe with other minority groups. Our odds are in favour of the defender being a Ghanan-Hausa because of his name.
Mohammed Salisu’s Education:
Mrs. Salisu loved her sons to get a sound education. However, she might need more cash to send him to the best school. Yet the lack of enough money didn’t change how much she valued learning.
Yet, after careful study, there is no record of the particular name and location of Mohammed Salisu’s school. Yet it is one of the learning centers in Kumasi. But in writing this Bio, there were talks on how the Ghanaian player ditched learning to play football.
It was because of Moha’s habit of leaving school that made his mother destroy the only boot he had. Yet, after constantly chasing and quarreling for the defender to take his education seriously, he finally agreed. To Mrs. Salisu, the only thing that mattered was her son becoming a learned man.
Career Story:
Moha wanted nothing more than to be a footballer. It was the sole reason he was always running away from school. And joining his friends to play on the streets of Kumasi. One would say that his grandfather was reincarnating through the young boy.
Mohammed wanted to be part of the Premier League despite his struggles and hardships. The periods the African athlete played with his brothers and friends are the most beautiful foundation of his career. More so, Salisu and Mohammed Muntari played on the streets together.
Mohammed Muntari and Mohammed Salisu are battling together on the field.
Yet, there were several problems. Would the defender let these issues get in his way of being one of the most favoured footballers? You will find out if Abdul Karim got his most delayed success as you read.
Mohammed Salisu Biography – Career Story:
Hope for his career came when Moha joined the Kumasi Barcelona Babies. It was a local youth club in his hometown in Ghana. So you aren’t wrong if you called him a former Barcelona star. Here is the photo of Abdul Karim Salisu with his teammate.
Moha was Part of the Barcelona Team in Africa. Can you spot him among the Players?
In addition to honouring his grandfather’s legacy, Salisu drew inspiration from other football stars. Surprisingly, it wasn’t towering figures like Kalidou Koulibaly or Virgil van Dijk who captured his admiration. Instead, he looked up to the likes of Sergio Ramos and Samuel Umtiti—two defenders whose style of play he aspired to emulate.
Yet, that was only the start. In 2013, Mohammed left for the West African Football Academy (WAFA). Although it was good news for the newbie player, he faced several issues. Before stating the problem, here is the Ghanaian in the training ground.
Behold the Kumasi- Born champ with the West African Football Academy with his Colleagues.
The Spanish footballer Sergios and the Barcelona teammate Samuel are among the best defenders in football. They both have set records that make them apart from other athletes. And it is undoubtedly an excellent icon for Salisu to want to walk on the same path.
Road to Fame Story:
Moha faced a lot of challenges on his way to success. Firstly, it wasn’t easy for Mrs. Salisu to handle the family when her husband moved out. Besides, she didn’t love her first son’s passion for football.
It made little sense to her that Salisu would choose education over football. Thus, she went as far as destroying the only boots the defender had with him. And when it was time for Mohammed to use them during a trial, he had to borrow from a kind goalkeeper.
Besides the lack of money to get the best training, hunger was a massive challenge for the player. But how did the Premier League champ convince his mother to let him continue playing? The simple answer is resilience when Salisu’s mom saw how much her child loved his passion. And that there was a great future ahead. She gave him all her support.
The big break came in 2017 after a trial session. Moha joined Real Valladolid’s youth setup. Besides, his senior debut was a year later, in January 2018. And Abdul Karim had his first goal on the 29th of April in an 82nd-minute victory. Here is the defender celebrating his net score.
The Joyous moment, a time the Kumasi star is celebrating his first goal in the La Liga Valladolid Team.
For some people, going past challenges could be very difficult. But Mohammed went past his hurdles and is on the way to making history like his icons. At 20, top clubs like Manchester and Real Madrid began chasing after the young talent. Please keep reading to see how it turns out.
Mohammed Salisu Bio- Rise to Fame:
The Spanish la Liga defender only stayed with Valladolid during the 2017 to 2020 season. And he joined the Premier League club Southampton for a transfer fee worth £10.9 million. It was around the same period that Kyle Walker-Peters joined the club. The contract was to last for four years, according to the manager, Ralph Hasenhüttl.
Salisu made his debut in Southampton on the 11th of February 2021. And three days later entered the Premier League against Wolverhampton Wanderers. The defender scored his professional goal in the EFL cup in December.
As if that’s not enough, Salisu got a call to represent his country, Ghana, in the senior squad. And on 23rd September, the Kumasi-born played in a friendly match against Brazil and Switzerland with a first goal. Also, he is among the call-ups for the World cup match in Qatar with black stars, as stated by Myjoyonline.
The Southampton Defender Joins his Country’s club at the World Cup in Qatar.
Sariki would look back on the years he put in playing on the streets in Kumasi. And remember the cheers of his friends hailing his skills. Fans rate him alongside Antoine Semenyo and Mohammed Kudus as among the top rising Ghanaian youngsters of their generation. And the rest is history, they said.
Personal Life:
At the time of writing this bio, the 23-year-old is a lively person who is a friend to everyone. Yet, Moha is a young man who always loves to look good. As you can see in the images, the Southampton teammate is a fashion lover.
The Kumasi-born likes to compliment his looks with his Fashion Sense.
Besides, they say happiness is a gift humans have, and the defender loves to be happy. And as Mohammed Salisu’s zodiac is Aries, he is always in charge of how he feels. Here is one of the rare moments Abdul Sariki and Inaki Williams felt joyful goofing around.
Apart from his football life, the Kumasi-born athlete never forgets his humble beginnings. After all, there is no story without a family background. Thus, just as he struggled to get to the Premier League, Moha understands many teenagers face the same challenges. That is why he donates sports kits to the African team to cater to those without help.
The Premier League Champ Loves to Help others by donating kits to them.
Now, who is Mohammed Salisu when he is not on the football pitch? The answer is simple. The Ghanaian is a loving and kind man who always wants to see others happy.
Lifestyle:
Although in his early twenties, the wall of Valladolid does not flaunt his assets on the internet. It is a rare virtue to see someone who has the means to show off his wealth but doesn’t. He does not love the attention of the media. But we get to see a rare photo of Mohammed Salisu’s car.
One of the rare photos is of Mohammed in his car.
How much does the Southampton defender make yearly? The FIFA goal scorer, according to Capology, makes an income of £1.30 million. Besides that, his weekly earnings are over £30, 000. Altogether, this sum makes Mohammed Salisu’s net worth £6.33 million.
Untold Facts:
In rounding up our Bio of this 6ft defender, this section will reveal more details about the agile and tough number 22 player. Without hesitation, let’s begin.
First Ghanaian to Score in Qatar:
You would remember the defender as the player that makes history. Karim is one of the first Ghanaians to score a FIFA World Cup goal in 2022. In the match against South Korea in Qatar, Moha ensured the black stars got into the second spot in Group H.
Mohammed Salisu’s Religion:
The centre-back’s name leaves many people needing clarification about his religion. But Mohammed Salisu Abdul Karim has its origin in the Muslim faith. And research shows that his name means a happy or joyful person.
How Rich is Mohammed Salisu?
The Wall of Valladolid makes a ton of cash from his career. From his early years as a newbie athlete when, he was going to training without being paid. And then Moha got his first pay of almost 3000 euros. Currently, Southampton stars make 25000 euros per week.
There was a huge gap when we compared his salary to the average Ghanaian employee. In Ghana, the civil worker goes home with 900 cedis monthly. This means that a native of the Gold Coast region has to work for more than 27 years to earn the income of a World Cup athlete.
Mohammed Salisu FIFA:
The AS Monaco Defender has come a long way in his football game. There is an enormous improvement from the earliest times in the sands of his streets to the World Cup field. This image shows the tactics and mentalities that make Mohammed comparable to names like Eric Bailly and Tosin Adarabioyo.
Mohammed Salisu’s FIFA Profile.
Conclusion:
Mohammed Salisu Abdul Karim is the first child of Mr. and Mrs. Salisu, and he was born on the 17th of April, 1999. The footballer’s birthplace is in Kumasi, Ghana. Furthermore, he is of Ghanaian nationality and black ethnicity.
The Southampton player grew up with his family in Kumasi. His brothers, his mother, and his father all stayed together. But years later, when Moha was eight years old, Mr. Salisu (his dad) left the house and never returned. Thus, it was up to his mom to take care of the household in his absence.
Although life wasn’t easy after that period, football was the solace of the young child. At first, it was considered the game of every male child, but Abdul Karim took it more seriously. So much so that he even skipped school to play ball. And this habit broke Mrs Salisu’s heart every day.
Yet, from what started as a Kumasi street match, Karim was invited to his first team in WAFA. Which progressed to the African Talent Football Academy. Mohammed’s career took off in Valladolid in 2017/2018.
Today, the Ghanaian player is among the champions in the Qatar World Cup match. Besides, Mohammed Salisu’s net worth has increased to 1.5 million with a salary of 25000 euros weekly. Indeed, the Aries zodiac sign athlete is paving his way in football history.
Appreciation:
Thank you for reading about Mohammed Salisu’s Biography. We are grateful you were kind enough to go through this article. We will continue bringing you accurate life stories of your favourite Ghanaian players.
Kindly stay tuned for more stories about footballers of African origin. The Life history of Armel Bella Kotchap and Abdul Fatawu will excite you. If you note any incorrect info, let us know via comments.
