Asamoah Gyan

Asamoah Gyan (born 22 November 1985) is a Ghanaian former professional footballer who played as a striker.

He is a former captain of the Ghana national team.

Born in Accra, Gyan had his early education at Seven Great Princess Academy in Dansoman completing in 1999, and his secondary education at the Accra Academy from 1999 to 2002.

Gyan started his career at Ghanaian club Liberty Professionals located in Accra.

In his only top flight season with the club, he played 16 league matches in the Ghana Premier League and scored 10 goals.

He ended the season as the league's third top goal scorer.

Gyan began his career in 2003 with Ghana Premier League club Liberty Professionals scoring ten goals in sixteen matches then spent three seasons with Serie A club Udinese via two seasons loan at Modena netting on fifteen occasions in 53 league matches and at Udinese where he scored 11 times in 39 league matches.

Having signed for Udinese in 2003, he spent two years on loan at Serie B club Modena to gain match experience.

Gyan has also represented Ghana at the 2004 Summer Olympics and in seven Africa Cup of Nations in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019, helping them finish in third-place in 2008 and runner-up in 2010 and 2015.

He launched his memoir, titled "LeGYANdry" at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel in Accra.

On 20 June 2023, Gyan announced his retirement from active football.

Gyan is the last born of his parents, Baffour Gyan Mensah (Father) and the late Madam Cecilia Amoako (Mother).

His senior brother Baffour Gyan is also a former professional footballer.

Gyan was married to Gifty Sandra Dzamesi and together, they had three children, namely, Rafael Gyan, Frederick Gyan, Floyd Gyan.

He represented Ghana at the 2006, 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups.

With 6 goals, he is the top African goalscorer in the history of the World Cup.

Following some excellent displays during the 2006 World Cup, he attracted interest from Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow.

Gyan scored eight goals in 2006–07 to help the Stadio Friuli club finish in 10th place in Serie A.

Gyan returned to Udinese at the start of 2006, but on 17 February 2007, Udinese pulled out of a deal to sell him in the January transfer window.

The striker was on the verge of signing a three-year deal with Russian Club Lokomotiv Moscow for US$10.5 million, the fourth largest transfer fee in Russian football history.

"The striker Udinese targeted to replace me did not sign for them," Gyan told BBC Sport.

"I've been told I will now have to stay in Italy for the rest of the season."

On 10 August 2007, along with Fabio Quagliarella, Gyan signed an improved five-year contract extension to stay at Udinese until 30 June 2012, as a reward for his fine form in the 2007–08 pre-season.

"I have decided to stay here because it is one of the top leagues in the world," Asamoah said, "There is the possibility of me playing regular football here to make me a better player. "I am comfortable with the new deal and I know I can help Udinese achieve things for the future". Gyan and Quagliarella marked their contract extensions with a brace each in Udinese's 7–0 friendly win later that evening.

On 29 July 2007, following his impressive pre-season form, including a hat-trick in a friendly against Serie B outfit Spezia on 25 July 2007, before Udinese sealed the long-term deal.

Gyan was dogged by injury during the 2007–08 season and never appeared for Udinese again after January 2008, having played only 13 Serie A matches and scored 3 times that season.

In 2008, Gyan joined Ligue 1 club Rennes, netting fourteen times in forty-eight league matches during two seasons.

On 11 July 2008, Gyan was signed by Ligue 1 club Stade Rennais for four years on an €8 million transfer fee.

Gyan played 48 times for Rennes, scoring 14 goals.

By the end of his stay at Rennes, he became a well known goal scoring figure, scoring 13 league goals in the 2009–10 season.

However, Gyan only played three games in Ligue 1 the following season, taking his total appearances to 53, before he departed for Sunderland.

In 2010, Gyan joined Premier League club Sunderland, breaking the club's transfer record and netting on ten occasions in thirty-four Premier League matches during two seasons.

On 31 August 2010, Gyan signed for Premier League club Sunderland on a four-year deal for a club record £13 million.

Gyan was later given the squad number 33 shirt at Sunderland.

He scored on his Sunderland debut against Wigan Athletic on 11 September after coming on as a substitute for Danny Welbeck.

The match ended in a 1–1 draw with Antolín Alcaraz scoring Wigan's equaliser.

In 2011, Gyan joined Al Ain of the UAE Pro League on loan and became the league's top goalscorer, scoring 22 times in 18 matches.

In the following season, Gyan permanently joined Al Ain and helped them retain the Pro League title, once again finishing as the league's top goalscorer with an impressive 31 goals in 22 matches.

In the 2013–14 league season, Gyan finished top scorer for a record third time, with 29 goals in 26 matches.

Gyan is the all-time leading goalscorer of the Ghana national team, with 51 goals.