Last season was his first in English football, a whirlwind arrival from Austria that began with bright sparks of creativity before injury dimmed the lights.
Now, fully fit and armed with hard-earned lessons, the Ghanaian midfielder is ready to play a starring role in Norwich City’s promotion push.
The 22-year-old’s journey to Norfolk happened almost overnight, quite literally.
“It really went so fast. Honestly, everything, the deal and everything just went so quickly. I trained with them on Thursday, and then I had the game on Saturday,” Amankwah said in an exclusive interview with Flashscore.
The move from Austria’s Red Bull Salzburg to Norwich City last August left little time for preparation and even fewer opportunities to pack properly.
“To settle in was a bit hard because, honestly, I didn't even send shoes because it was so quick. But I got it the next day, so it was really a little bit stressful because it was too quick.
"But it was okay to start really early and then just start straight away to get into it because that's what I'm used to.”
Regardless, Amankwah started brightly. In his first few weeks, he showed his creativity and attacking instinct, recording three assists and getting regular minutes in the side.
However, just as he was settling into life in the Championship, an injury halted his momentum.
As a result, the Ghanaian only ended up playing a total of 844 minutes across all competitions for the 2024/25 season.
“If you're a player and then you get injured, probably you feel bad because you can see your teammates are playing, and you’re outside just watching them. It hurts especially when the team is also not doing well and you hope you want to help.”
It was a setback that forced him to reassess his training and recovery methods, a challenge he has embraced.
“I think I learnt a lot. It’s the first year, so it's something I need to do for myself to prevent some injuries, so that's what I'm working on.”
The Ghanaian had long dreamed of playing in England, and the Championship lived up to its reputation.
“It was a great feeling to play in England. A lot of football players want to play in England. It was a great feeling.
“I would say the league is tough. Really physical and more intense. In Austria, it was also intense, but the physicality is different. It's my first year, so I will get used to it,” the midfielder added.
Amankwah’s standout moment came in February against Coventry City. Coming off the bench, he scored a decisive goal that sent Carrow Road into raptures, later earning a nomination for the club’s Goal of the Season.
“My best moment was when I came in to score the goals against Coventry. It was a great feeling because I had been injured and not playing games, so just to come in and win the game for the club was the best moment being here.
“I wasn't surprised because I think the fans really loved that moment… It had been a long time since they had experienced such an atmosphere at the Carrow Road, and I was very proud.”
This summer, Norwich appointed a new coach in Liam Manning, who has used Forson in a slightly tweaked role.
The Ghanaian has been used in pre-season as one of two number 10s, but with the license to drift wide to the right wing, a position that allows him to exploit his pace and direct running.
So far, Amankwah has featured in four pre-season games and looks set for a much bigger role this season. Staying fit will be key.
“I think I'll be part of the team for next season. I need to bring myself up and avoid getting injured. I need to train in a way that boosts my fitness.”
Just over a year ago, the Norwich player made his senior debut for Ghana. He featured in the friendly matches against Nigeria and Uganda.
“I was happy to be there. I was really happy to be there because it gives you more opportunities and then a lot of joy for your family. The national team is just like a proud moment because everybody wants it, so if you've been called up, there's something really joyful for everybody who's behind you.”
With this being a World Cup year, he knows strong performances for Norwich could open the door for a Black Stars return.
“Definitely, I'm dreaming of going to the World Cup because if you're a football player, especially a young player playing in the World Cup says a lot. I think it's really good to be part, because I want to be part, so I need to do everything to be part of the squad.”
Amankwah knows that helping Norwich gain promotion will put him in the limelight and increase his chances of being reintroduced into the national team picture.
His personal objective ahead of the new season is to help the Canaries return to the Premier League. For Amankwah, that ambition matches his own hunger.
“The club wants to get promoted, so as a player, you also need that because the Premier League is the best league.
"It's like the top league, and then everybody's watching the Premier League. So I'm prepared for that, and then I hope we get the best of it.”
“We hope for the best next season, and then I hope we can get promoted. We will do everything and try our best to just get promoted.”
If his pre-season is anything to go by, Amankwah is ready to turn last year’s lessons into this year’s success story.
