Asamoah Gyan’s financial journey: From riches to rags
Asamoah Gyan, Ghana’s legendary striker and record goalscorer, has gone from earning £227,000 a week to claiming he is down to just £600 in his account, reports BritPanorama.
The former footballer, who holds the record as Africa’s top World Cup scorer with six goals, experienced a significant downturn in his financial status following a bitter legal dispute that began in 2018.
At the peak of his career with Shanghai SIPG in 2015, Gyan was the eighth-highest paid footballer globally. His lucrative contract with the Chinese club was framed by a remarkable goal-scoring spell in the UAE, where he earned a staggering £160,000 per week.
However, the turning point came amid marital troubles with his wife, Gifty. During their annulment proceedings, Gyan disclosed that he was struggling financially, presenting bank statements that revealed unpaid wages owed to him from Turkish club Kayserispor.
At the height of his earnings, Gyan had made a name for himself in the UK; he joined Sunderland from Rennes for a club-record £12 million in 2010. His impressive debut season saw him net 11 goals in 33 appearances, forming a notable partnership with Darren Bent, contributing to the club’s mid-table finish.
Despite his successful stint in the Premier League, Gyan’s wealth took a hit during his time with Al Ain, where he received a £125,000 weekly salary, significantly increasing over time due to his goal tally of 128 strikes in just 123 matches.
The financial decay emerged during his marriage annulment, where he found himself unable to meet court-mandated expenses, including business-class flights for his three children until a paternity test confirmed his fatherhood. He expressed his struggle poignantly, stating, “My front and back, up and down is that money you see there,” while addressing his depleted resources.
The legal battle yielded painful outcomes for Gyan, including a court ruling that mandated him to pay substantial compensation to his ex-wife, which included properties, vehicles, and a monthly child support fee of 25,000 Ghanaian cedis (approximately £1,314).
Current reports suggest Gyan has not been entirely without means; since 2020, he has enjoyed moments of affluence, owning flashy assets like a gold Rolls-Royce and residing in his £2.4 million mansion, although concerns about its location on a former quarry site are now a pressing issue.
Despite these challenges, Gyan’s entrepreneurial spirit persists. He runs a successful business network in Ghana, encompassing around 30 buses in Accra and a water supply company. He has also initiated ventures such as Baby Jet Airlines, which, although delayed due to the pandemic, holds promise for the near future. His investments extend to real estate, generating rental income.
As the narrative unfolds around Gyan, it underscores the transient nature of wealth and the complex interplay between personal and professional spheres in an athlete’s life, reminding us how swiftly fortunes can change in the world of sport.
