Joseph Aidoo (born September 29, 1995) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Spanish club Real Valladolid, on loan from Celta Vigo, and represents the Ghana national team.
Aidoo began his professional career with Inter Allies in the Ghanaian Premier League. In the 2013–14 season, he was nominated for Defender of the Year but narrowly missed out on the award. During the 2014–15 season, he captained the club, showcasing leadership and defensive prowess.
In August 2015, Swedish Allsvenskan club Hammarby IF signed Aidoo on a six-month loan deal. He made his debut on October 25, 2015, against reigning champions Malmö FF, putting in an impressive performance despite the 0–1 loss. His strong display earned him the title of Hammarby’s player of the game.
Ahead of the 2016 season, Aidoo secured a permanent three-year contract with Hammarby IF. He became a key player in defense, helping the team achieve an impressive run of seven wins in 11 matches while keeping six consecutive clean sheets in away games. He scored his first goal for the club on September 12, 2016, in a 1–1 draw against Örebro SK. His solid performances in the 2017 season earned him a spot in Goal magazine’s best African XI for April.
On July 24, 2017, Aidoo transferred to Belgian First Division A club Genk on a three-year contract, with an option for an extension. The transfer fee was reported to be between €1.25 million and €2 million. He made his debut on August 26, 2017, in a 1–0 home win against Mechelen. Aidoo scored his first goal for Genk on October 22, 2017, securing a 1–0 victory over Anderlecht and earning the Man of the Match award. He played a key role in Genk’s eight-match unbeaten streak from September to November 2017, solidifying his reputation as a reliable defender.
On July 11, 2019, Aidoo signed a five-year contract with Spanish La Liga club RC Celta de Vigo for a reported €8 million. His former club Hammarby received €380,000 as part of the transfer deal. He made his La Liga debut on August 24, 2019, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 win against Valencia.
On January 30, 2025, Aidoo joined Real Valladolid on loan, continuing his career in Spain’s top tier.
Aidoo represented Ghana at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup, playing all four matches before the team was eliminated by Mali in the quarter-finals. He also competed in the African U-20 Championship earlier that year, where Ghana finished in third place.
He made his senior debut for the Ghana national team on March 26, 2019, in a friendly match against Mauritania. Since then, he has been a key figure in Ghana’s defense, bringing strength and experience to the national squad.
