Tariq Lamptey vows to recapture form after recovering from ACL injury

Ghana international Tariq Lamptey has expressed his determination to rediscover his best form after completing a move to Championship side Queens Park Rangers ahead of the 2026/27 season.

The 26-year-old joined the English club after making progress in his recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, which disrupted his time at Italian Serie A side Fiorentina.

Lamptey joined Fiorentina from Premier League outfit Brighton & Hove Albion on a three-year contract, but his spell in Italy was cut short after the serious injury forced both parties to agree to an early separation.

Despite enduring a difficult period on the sidelines, the Ghana defender remains confident that he can return to the level that established him as one of the most exciting young full-backs in English football.

“My recovery has gone well, and I’m not too far away now. I’m looking forward to joining with the boys," Lamptey told the club website.

“Throughout my football journey I've always been resilient.

“You can't really predict what's going to happen, but you can only put your best foot forward and prepare as well as possible. And that's what I try to do.”

The former Chelsea academy graduate also highlighted the qualities he hopes to bring to QPR, describing himself as an energetic and committed player.

“I'm hardworking, I like to get up and down, a lot of energy, a lot of fun - hopefully I’ll keep the fans on the edge of their seats," he said.

“I'm tough tackling, I love one-v-ones, defensive and attacking, I just love playing the game.”

Born in Hillingdon, Lamptey developed through Chelsea’s youth system before making his Premier League debut against Arsenal in 2019.

He later joined Brighton & Hove Albion in 2020, where he made over 120 appearances and earned recognition as one of the league’s most promising attacking full-backs.

The right-back, who represented Ghana at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, has earned 11 senior caps for the Black Stars and is now focused on rebuilding his career at Queens Park Rangers.