This is an accepted version of this page Asamoah Gyan (/ˌæsəˈmoʊə ˈdʒɑːn/ ASS-ə-MOH-ə JAHN;[3] born 22 November 1985) is a Ghanaian former professional footballer who played as a striker.

[4][5][6] Gyan began his career in 2003 with Ghana Premier League club Liberty Professionals, scoring ten goals in sixteen matches.

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

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

"[22] 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[23] in the 2007–08 pre-season.

[7] "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.

Gyan's next goal came on 23 April as Sunderland beat Wigan Athletic 4–2, a match which ended prematurely for the forward as he was substituted following a hamstring injury which was expected to see him miss the remainder of the season.

On 10 September 2011, it was confirmed on the Sunderland website that Gyan would leave on a season long loan to club Al Ain FC.

[10] Amid speculation of a fee of up to £6 million being paid for the loan period, with Gyan receiving up to four times his previous salary,[39] Chairman Niall Quinn emphasised the financial benefits of the deal for both Sunderland and the player.

When Martin O'Neill became manager of Sunderland on 8 December 2011, he considered the possibility of recalling Gyan from his loan spell away from the club.

On 24 July 2014, Gyan announced on his personal website that he had signed a contract extension at Al-Ain, receiving an improved deal and tying him to the club until 2018.

[12] On 7 July 2015, Gyan confirmed on his own website that he had left Al Ain and was set to join Chinese Super League club Shanghai SIPG.

[42][43] It was then revealed that Gyan's weekly salary of £227,000 with his Chinese club instantly made him one of the world's best paid football players.

On 1 November 2020, Gyan returned to Ghana to join Legon Cities,[50] in a loan deal worth more than 1 million dollars.

[56] Gyan's retirement statement reflected the sentiment that the time had come for him to bid farewell to his illustrious playing career, acknowledging the natural progression that all footballers eventually face.

The strike was also Ghana's first ever goal in the FIFA World Cup, coming in the game against the Czech Republic on 17 June at the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne, Germany, which set the Black Stars on their way to a 2–0 victory.

[64] On 24 January 2008, during the Africa Cup of Nations, Gyan and his brother Baffour decided to walk out on the Black Stars following criticism after their unconvincing 1–0 win over Namibia.

[65] The media learnt the brothers had packed their bags and were ready to leave the team hotel but were persuaded to stay by teammates.

[68] In the round of 16 match against the United States, he scored a goal in extra time allowing Ghana to win 2–1 and hence become the third African team in history to qualify to the tournament's quarter final, after Cameroon and Senegal.

[78] At the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, Gyan missed Ghana's opening match, a 2–1 loss to Senegal, with a "mild bout" of malaria.

[80] An international exile lasting over a year was ended in October 2018 when Gyan was called up to the Ghanaian squad for a pair of 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches versus Sierra Leone.

[83][4][84][85] In early August 2022 Gyan released a statement that he was training to get back to full fitness to play in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

[86] Gyan was not part of the 26 man squad selected to represent Ghana in the World Cup 2022 and since then has been an ample supporter of the Black Stars and has been leading fan festivals and ceremonies.

[88] On 6 July 2012, Asamoah Gyan stated: Ghana has a lot of great boxers previously like Azumah Nelson, Ike Quartey and Joshua Clottey, so we need to push the young ones coming up.

[89] As of October 2017, Asamoah Gyan has been granted an Air Carrier Licence (ACL) by the Ghanaian Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).