Last Updated on September 18, 2026 by Miguel Manjate
Issah Haruna is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Orlando City B and has also appeared for Orlando City SC’s first team. Born on March 14, 2004, in Kumasi, Ghana, Haruna developed at Ghana Angels Soccer Academy before moving to the United States to play college soccer for the University of North Carolina Greensboro.
Unlike many young professional footballers whose family backgrounds remain almost completely undocumented, Haruna’s official college biography provides two important details about his relatives. UNC Greensboro identifies Atia Haruna as one of his parents and confirms that he has one sibling named Rukaiya. However, the university does not specify whether Atia is his father or mother, and the identity of his other parent has not been publicly established. There is also no reliable public confirmation of a girlfriend, wife or children.
Who Is Issah Haruna’s Girlfriend?
As of now, Issah Haruna has not publicly confirmed having a girlfriend or wife through an official club interview, college biography or established sports publication.
Haruna maintains a relatively private personal life. Most of the information available about him focuses on his development in Ghana, his college career at UNC Greensboro and his transition into professional soccer with Orlando City.
No romantic partner has become a documented part of his public profile. For that reason, people appearing with Haruna in photographs or on social media should not automatically be identified as girlfriends without direct confirmation.
Does Issah Haruna Have Children?
There is no reliable public information indicating that Issah Haruna has children.
Neither UNC Greensboro nor Orlando City identifies Haruna as a father, and no established interview or player profile reviewed for his background mentions a son or daughter.
As of now, no children have been publicly confirmed.
Who Are Issah Haruna’s Parents?
UNC Greensboro’s official athletics biography states that Issah Haruna is the son of Atia Haruna. This is currently the clearest authoritative information available about his immediate family.
The university biography does not identify Haruna’s second parent, nor does it specify whether Atia Haruna is his father or mother. It would therefore be inaccurate to assign a parental role that the source itself does not establish.
Haruna was born in Kumasi, although UNC Greensboro listed his hometown as Bolgatanga, Ghana during his college career. He later attended Prampram Senior High School and spent many years developing at Ghana Angels Soccer Academy.
Atia Haruna
Atia Haruna is the only parent of Issah Haruna publicly identified by an authoritative sporting source.
UNC Greensboro included Atia’s name in the personal section of Haruna’s official player profile. However, the biography does not provide information about Atia’s occupation, hometown or personal history.
It also does not clarify whether Atia is Issah’s father or mother. Until Haruna himself or another reliable source provides that information, Atia is best described simply as one of the midfielder’s parents.
Haruna’s journey suggests that his formative years involved substantial commitment to football. He spent approximately nine years with Ghana Angels Soccer Academy, from 2015 until his move into American college soccer in 2024.
Issah Haruna’s Other Parent
The identity of Issah Haruna’s other parent has not been publicly documented by UNC Greensboro, Orlando City or another authoritative football source.
No reliable interview currently provides a name, occupation or background for this parent. For that reason, information from unrelated people sharing the Haruna surname should not be used to fill the gap.
Haruna’s growing professional profile may eventually result in more interviews about his childhood and family, but as of now those details remain private.
Does Issah Haruna Have Siblings?
Yes. Issah Haruna has one sibling named Rukaiya, according to his official UNC Greensboro biography.
Rukaiya
Rukaiya is the only sibling of Issah Haruna publicly identified by a reliable source.
UNC Greensboro lists Rukaiya by first name but does not provide further information about age, education, occupation or whether Rukaiya is an older or younger sibling.
The university biography also does not explicitly describe Rukaiya as Haruna’s sister or brother. For accuracy, Rukaiya should therefore simply be described as his sibling unless a more detailed source becomes available.
Rukaiya has remained outside the media coverage surrounding Issah’s football career, and there is no reason to speculate about private details that the family has not chosen to make public.
Issah Haruna’s Family Background in Ghana
Haruna was born in Kumasi, Ghana, on March 14, 2004. Orlando City lists Kumasi as both his birthplace and hometown, while his UNC Greensboro college profile used Bolgatanga as his hometown.
The differing listings suggest that more than one Ghanaian city has been important during Haruna’s upbringing, although available official sources do not provide enough detail to reconstruct exactly when his family moved between different parts of the country.
His educational and football development also took him to Prampram, where he attended Prampram Senior High School.
Before moving to the United States, Haruna spent nearly a decade with Ghana Angels Soccer Academy. His UNC Greensboro biography states that he was with the academy from 2015 until 2024 and was recognized as its best athlete.
Issah Haruna’s Years at Ghana Angels Soccer Academy
Ghana Angels Soccer Academy provided the main foundation for Haruna’s development before college soccer.
Joining the academy in 2015 meant that much of Haruna’s adolescence was spent training within its football system. By the time he left Ghana for the United States, he already had years of structured development behind him.
That preparation helped him adjust quickly after arriving at UNC Greensboro in 2024.
Haruna later explained that one of the attractions of UNCG was its cultural diversity and reputation as a competitive soccer program. Moving from Ghana to North Carolina represented a significant transition both academically and athletically.
Issah Haruna’s College Career at UNC Greensboro
Haruna made an immediate impression during his freshman season in 2024.
He appeared in 16 matches, starting 12, and recorded three goals and three assists. His performances earned him the Southern Conference Freshman of the Year award as well as places on the All-SoCon Second Team and All-Freshman Team.
He continued progressing during his sophomore season in 2025, starting all 21 of his appearances and recording two goals and five assists.
One of his most notable performances came against highly ranked Virginia in the NCAA Tournament, when he contributed both a goal and an assist.
Across two college seasons, Haruna played 37 matches for the Spartans and established himself as one of the program’s leading midfield prospects.
Issah Haruna’s Move From Ghana to the United States
Moving from Ghana to the United States was one of the most important changes of Haruna’s young life.
He had spent almost his entire development period with Ghana Angels before arriving at UNC Greensboro. American college soccer gave him an opportunity to combine education with a high-level competitive environment while attracting attention from Major League Soccer clubs.
Haruna’s technical ability, versatility and productivity eventually made him a prospect for the MLS SuperDraft.
UNC Greensboro also provided a community in which Haruna could continue adapting to life outside Ghana while competing regularly against some of the leading college programs in the United States.
Orlando City Selects Issah Haruna in the MLS SuperDraft
Haruna’s college performances earned him a major professional opportunity in December 2025.
Orlando City selected the Ghanaian midfielder with the 20th overall pick in the first round of the 2026 MLS SuperDraft.
The selection marked an important milestone for Haruna after only two seasons of American college soccer.
Orlando City valued his technical qualities and versatility, with the midfielder capable of contributing in several central and attacking roles.
Issah Haruna Signs His First Professional Contract
On February 28, 2026, Orlando City B signed Haruna to his first professional contract.
The MLS NEXT Pro agreement runs through the 2026 season. Orlando City sporting director Ricardo Moreira highlighted Haruna’s technical ability and capacity to play multiple positions when announcing the signing.
Haruna quickly became an important player for Orlando City B and began producing goals and assists during his first professional season.
By September 2026, he had developed into one of the team’s most productive attacking midfielders, including a run of three consecutive matches with goals and a two-assist performance against Toronto FC II.
Issah Haruna’s Orlando City First-Team Debut
Haruna’s development with Orlando City B also opened the door to the MLS first-team environment.
He made his Orlando City first-team debut during the 2026 Leagues Cup against Atlético de San Luis, entering as a second-half substitute.
Later in August, Orlando City signed him to another short-term first-team agreement ahead of an MLS match against FC Cincinnati.
The opportunities demonstrated that Haruna had already moved closer to the senior MLS squad only months after signing his first professional contract.
Issah Haruna’s Family and His Professional Journey
Although Haruna has not yet given extensive interviews about his family’s role in his career, official information confirms that Atia Haruna and sibling Rukaiya are part of his immediate family.
His football journey has taken him from Ghana to college soccer in North Carolina and then professional football in Florida, meaning his career has already involved significant geographical changes at a relatively young age.
With Haruna still at the beginning of his professional career, additional family information may become public over time. For now, however, the identities of relatives beyond Atia and Rukaiya remain private.
Frequently Asked Questions About Issah Haruna’s Family
Who is Issah Haruna’s girlfriend?
As of now, Issah Haruna has not publicly confirmed having a girlfriend or wife through a reliable source.
Does Issah Haruna have children?
There is no reliable public information confirming that Issah Haruna has children.
Who are Issah Haruna’s parents?
UNC Greensboro identifies Atia Haruna as one of Issah’s parents. The identity of his other parent has not been publicly documented.
Is Atia Haruna Issah Haruna’s father?
UNC Greensboro describes Issah as the son of Atia Haruna but does not explicitly specify whether Atia is his father or mother. It is therefore more accurate to describe Atia simply as his parent.
Who is Issah Haruna’s mother?
No reliable public source currently identifies Issah Haruna’s mother by name with enough clarity to make a definitive claim.
Who is Issah Haruna’s father?
No authoritative source reviewed explicitly identifies which of Haruna’s parents is his father.
Does Issah Haruna have siblings?
Yes. His official UNC Greensboro biography states that he has one sibling named Rukaiya.
Who is Rukaiya?
Rukaiya is Issah Haruna’s only publicly documented sibling. Further personal information about Rukaiya has not been published by reliable sporting sources.
Where is Issah Haruna from?
Haruna was born in Kumasi, Ghana. UNC Greensboro listed Bolgatanga as his hometown during college, while Orlando City lists Kumasi.
Where did Issah Haruna go to school?
Haruna attended Prampram Senior High School in Ghana before moving to the United States and enrolling at the University of North Carolina Greensboro.
Where does Issah Haruna play now?
As of now, Haruna is contracted to Orlando City B in MLS NEXT Pro. He has also made Orlando City first-team appearances under short-term agreements during the 2026 season.
Miguel Manjate is a football journalist and editor covering the Premier League, European competitions, and transfer news, with a strong focus on match analysis and data-driven reporting.
