- Planet Sport writer
- 2 February 2023
Andre Ayew joins Nottingham Forest for rest of the season
Nottingham Forest have completed the signing of free agent Andre Ayew.
Andre Ayew is a French-born Ghanaian professional football player who is the captain of the Ghana national team.
The son of Abedi Pele, who was part of the iconic Marseille side which won the UEFA Champions League in 1992/93, Ayew started his own top-level career at Marseille, having had stints at 1860 Munich and Nania as a youngster.
Ayew had loan spells at Lorient and Arles-Avignon before moving to Swansea City permanently in 2015. After a season at Swansea, he enjoyed a season-and-a-half at West Ham United before moving back to the Swans.
The 2017/18 season saw Swansea relegated to the Championship and Ayew went on loan to Fenerbahce for the 2018/19 campaign. However, he subsequently returned to Swansea and scored regularly for them during the following two seasons.
In July 2021, Al Sadd SC of the Qatar Stars League signed Ayew on a free transfer, but he was released by them in February 2023 and returned to the Premier League with Nottingham Forest.
He made his 100th Premier League appearance while at Forest but left the club at the end of the 2022/23 season.
Joining Marseille
Ayew joined Marseille as a trainee in 2006 and broke into the first team the following year. He made his professional debut for Marseille on August 15, 2007 in a league fixture against Valenciennes.
On November 6, 2007, he made his UEFA Champions League debut against FC Porto at the Estadio do Dragao. In both his league and Champions League debuts, Marseille were beaten 2-1.
Ayew made 13 appearances in all competitions in his first season - nine in the league, two in the cup and two in the Champions League. He was reportedly the subject of a €6million bid from Arsenal which was rebuffed by Marseille.
In the 2008/09 season, the arrivals of Hatem Ben Arfa, Sylvain Wiltord, Bakari Kone and Mamadou Samassa at Marseille meant that Ayew was loaned out to Lorient in order to gain experience. He scored three goals in 22 league appearances.
In 2009/10, with Marseille under the guidance of Didier Deschamps, Arles-Avignon signed Ayew for a loan spell in Ligue 2. There, he played on the right wing, scoring four goals in 26 matches.
Subsequently, Ayew returned to Marseille, where he had a successful 2010/11 season and was voted as the club's Best Player of the Season.
Ayew scored 13 goals in 51 appearances in the 2010/11 season for Marseille. By this time, his younger brother, Jordan, was also beginning to make his breakthrough in the team.
In the 2011/12 season, Ayew was even more prolific in front of goal, scoring 16 goals in 39 appearances in all competitions. He won the 2010/11 and 2011/12 Coupe de la Ligue with Marseille and the Trophee des Champions in 2010 and 2011.
In the 2012/13 campaign, Ayew scored 12 goals in 45 appearances in all competitions. In 2013/14, he netted eight times in 29 matches. His final season for Marseille, 2014/15, saw Ayew appear 30 times and score 11 goals.
Time at Swansea City
Swansea signed Andre Ayew after the 2014/15 season finished on a free transfer. He penned a four-year deal with the club.
Ayew hit the ground running at his new club, scoring his first goal in the 2-2 draw to then-champions Chelsea in Swansea's first match of the 2015/16 Premier League season.
He continued to find the back of the net with regularity, scoring against Newcastle United and Manchester United and also picking up an assist against the Red Devils. Ayew was named the Premier League Player of the Month for August 2015, getting his career in England off to a flying start.
Hammer time
Ayew scored a total of 12 goals for Swansea in his first Premier League season before signing for West Ham United for a reported £20.5million on a three-year contract, with the option of an extra two years.
Ayew struggled to find his best form in the claret and blue of West Ham. He left the club on deadline day in January 2018 having scored 12 goals in 50 appearances.
Swansea return, Fenerbahce loan and Al Sadd move
Ayew failed to score in 12 matches for Swansea in the 2017/18 Premier League season and the club was subsequently relegated.
He spent the 2018/19 season on loan at Fenerbahce and scored five goals in 38 appearances. His loan reportedly included an option to join the club at the end of the seaso. However, he returned to Swansea City to play in the Championship the following season.
Shortly after his return to Swansea, Ayew was made deputy captain of the club. He scored 18 goals in 47 appearances in all competitions in the 2019/20 season.
In the 2020/21 season, he continued his impressive goalscoring form as Swansea sought promotion to the Premier League. He scored 17 goals asthe Welsh club lost in the play-off final to Brentford.
In 2021, Ayew moved to Qatar with Al Sadd, where he has started superbly with seven goals in nine games.
He netted 15 league goals in his first season and helped The Wolves win the Qatar Stars League and the Emir of Qatar Cup.
He was released by Al Sadd in the February of the 2022/23 season and returned to the Premier League with Nottingham Forest as a free agent.
Ayew made his 100th Premier League appearance while at Forest but left the club at the end of the 2022/23 season.
Ghana national team
Ayew made it clear at a young age that he was interested in playing for Ghana, but initially, only France openly showed interest in him. Ghana ultimately snapped him up, making his debut against Senegal as a substitute on August 21, 2007. Claude Le Roy was the coach who gave Ayew his first call-up for the Black Stars.
He was named in Ghana's squad for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil as Ghana finished in third place. Then, he famously captained Ghana to the World Youth Championship title in 2009.
Ayew was named in Ghana's squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and helped his team to the quarter-finals. There they were infamously beaten by Uruguay following Luis Suarez's handball save on the goal-line and Asamoah Gyan's subsequent penalty miss.
Ayew was man of the match in Ghana's round-of-16 win over USA, but missed the quarter-final defeat to Uruguay due to suspension.
He went on to play at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, helping Ghana to fourth place. In February 2013, he retired from international soccer due to a dispute with Ghana's Football Association, but returned in September and helped the team qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Ayew became Ghana's interim captain in November 2014 with Asamoah Gyan out of the team and he continues to lead the Black Stars.
He helped Ghana qualify for the 2022 World Cup, and scored in their opening game against Portugal.
Personal life
Ayew's father, Abedi Pele, was an iconic Ghanaian soccer player and reportedly an inspiration behind his decision to play for Ghana. Andre's brother, Jordan, plays for Crystal Palace and previously turned out for Swansea City and Aston Villa.
Net worth
Ayew reportedly earns around £80,000 per week.
