Derek Owusu Boateng was born in Accra, Greater Accra, where he played for the local side Liberty Professionals. He signed for Kalamata F.C. in Greece when he was 16. In 2001, Boateng joined another Greek Super League club Panathinaikos. In 2002, Boateng was unable to keep his place in the Panathinaikos squad and was sent on loan to OFI Crete.

He signed for AIK in August 2003. In the 2004 season, AIK was relegated from Allsvenskan for the third time in the history of the club. In the following season, AIK gained promotion after winning the Superettan, distancing runners-up Östers IF by nine points.

Boateng extended his contract with AIK for one more year until the end of 2007. When he left for Beitar Jerusalem, Boateng stated in an interview that he loves Sweden and AIK and that he one day will come back to Allsvenskan and AIK the team he supports.

In July 2006, he signed with Beitar Jerusalem until January 2009. Boateng helped Beitar Jerusalem to win the league for the fifth time in their history, and for the first time for 10 years, contributing four goals in the campaign. The 2007–08 season started off poorly for Boateng, as he got sent off during Beitar Jerusalem's first official game of the season, in leg one of the second qualifying round for the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League, away to F.C. Copenhagen.

Beitar Jerusalem lost 2–1 on aggregate and were eliminated. Boateng ended the season with another championship for Beitar Jerusalem. At the Israel State Cup final, Boateng missed a penalty in a thrilling penalty shootout against Hapoel Tel-Aviv, but Beitar Jerusalem secured the title with a 5–4 win at the shootout and secured a historical double.

The 2008–09 season started with yet another early elimination at the second qualification round for the UEFA Champions League, this time with a 5–0 away defeat to Wis?a Kraków, and 6–2 in aggregate. On 21 January 2009, Boateng signed a four-year contract with 1. FC Köln.

However, on 31 July 2009, Getafe CF signed him from Köln for one million euros. He stayed at the Spanish club for just over two seasons, making 61 appearances and scoring two goals. On 20 June 2011, Boateng completed a move to Ukrainian club FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, signing a four-year contract.

For Dnipro Derek mostly played in 2011-12, while the next season he was side benched by the head coach after playing the first couple of games for the first team. Later after playing some games for the reserve team, Boateng lost interest in playing for the club at all.

In May 2013, Boateng confirmed that he had moved on a free transfer to Premier League side Fulham on Ghanaian radio. He said, "I have signed a two-year deal with Fulham and will be training with them for the first time .”I believe it’s a good move and I’m finally happy to see this deal." Fulham officially confirmed Boateng signed a one-year deal with an option for a further year on 22 May 2013.

He featured in the 2013–14 English Premiership opener against Sunderland where he played only 65 minutes and was substituted by Giorgos Karagounis. After his contract with Fulham expired, he decided to join the Spanish club Rayo Vallecano on 3 June 2014.

However, only two months later, he was deemed surplus to requirements by manager Paco Jémez, and rescinded his link with the Madrid outfit on 18 August. Hours after rescinding with Rayo, Boateng signed a one-year deal with fellow league club SD Eibar.

On 25 January 2016, Boateng signed with expansion side Rayo OKC of the North American Soccer League. On 30 January 2017, Boateng signed with Football League side OFI Crete F.C. till the end of the season. It is expected with his experience to help the club in his effort to be promoted to the Superleague.

International career Boateng in action with squad number 9, for the Ghana national team against England national team. While playing for Panathinaikos in 2001, Boateng also played for the Ghana national football team at the FIFA World Youth Championship in Argentina, in which Ghana progressed to the final.

After participating in a friendly with Ghana against French club Nice, he was selected for the Ghana squad at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He made his first FIFA World Cup appearance on 17 June 2006, when he replaced Otto Addo at half-time in the 2–0 win against the Czech Republic. He was also selected for the national team for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, in which Ghana progressed to the quarter-finals.

Superettan: 2005·

Israeli Premier League: 2006–07, 2007–08·

Israel State Cup: 2008·

FIFA World Youth Championship runner-up: 2001·

2007–08 Israeli Premier League Best Foreign Player of the Year

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