Harrogate Town sign Dundee 'target man' Emile Acquah on loan until end of season
Simon Weaver has landed the ‘target man’ he believes will help Harrogate Town succeed in their battle for League Two survival.
The struggling Sulphurites have completed a loan deal for Dundee striker Emile Acquah, which will see him remain at Wetherby Road until the end of the 2025/26 season.
Currently second from bottom of the table, Town are the lowest scorers in the division and their manager has spoken at length in recent months about their lack of physicality and edge in the final third.
Thus Weaver has moved to bring in the imposing former Barrow and Southend United forward, who will certainly add presence.
“We’re really pleased to have him, he's a big striker and we think we can get the best out of him,” the Harrogate chief said.
“We’ve wanted a target man for some time, someone who can be a presence in both boxes and help us play the way we want to.
“We’ve watched a fair bit of him and have admired him for quite a long time, so we are all excited by what he can bring to the club.”
Born in Hackney, 25-year-old Acquah began his career with Southend, captained by Mark Oxley, where he would make his first appearances in both League One and League Two.
Loan spells at Harlow Town and Maidenhead helped the six-foot-three striker gain even more exposure to first-team football, before joining up with Maidenhead on a permanent deal ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.
A return of 13 goals in his second season at York Road would convince Barrow to swoop for his services and bring Acquah to Holker Street.
In his first season with the Bluebirds, he appeared in all but two league fixtures, helping his side to an eighth-place finish in his first season, before Dundee made their move at the start of the 2025/26 campaign.
Acquah’s time in Scotland hasn’t exactly gone to plan, with just one goal materialising in 17 league and cup appearances.
He did fare better at Barrow where he netted seven in 43 matches last term following on from a return of nine in 47 during 2023/24, and Town will be hoping that he rediscovers his scoring form sooner rather than later if he is to help them escape the drop zone.
Acquah becomes Harrogate’s third signing of the January transfer window following the arrival of defender Grant Horton and goalkeeper Henry Gray.