The former Premier League striker earned an eye-watering amount of money but has just £597 left in his bank account. Asamoah Gyan, a football icon and Ghana’s all-time leading scorer with 51 goals, also holds the record for the top African scorer in World Cup history with six goals in the 2006, 2010 and 2014 tournaments. He had a fantastic spell with both his homeland and French side Rennes, and in 2010 he moved to Sunderland for a record-breaking £10 million.
Gyan was expected to make a big impact on Wearside and he did not disappoint in his first season, scoring 11 goals in 33 games. However, following his surprise departure the following September, Sunderland accepted a rumored £6 million loan fee and moved to Al Ain FC in the United Arab Emirates, where he earned more than three times his previous salary.
In the Middle East, he reportedly earned a staggering £160,000 a week. His high fee was certainly justified, as he scored an astonishing 112 goals in 107 games.
However, a more lucrative opportunity arose in 2015 when he moved to China’s Shanghai SIPG, managed by former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Gyan was reportedly the eighth highest-paid footballer in the world at the time, earning a whopping £227,000 a week.
However, the striker only scored eight goals in 26 appearances for the club, disappointing supporters given his high fee. Gyan retired from professional football in 2021 after playing for Kayserispor, NorthEast United and Legon Cities.
Despite amassing considerable wealth throughout his playing career, he surprisingly revealed that he only had £597 left in his bank account. In a 2018 interview with MyNewsGh.com, he said: “My front and back, my top and my bottom, that’s where the money is.”
The former international also produced Turkish bank statements from his time in Kayserispor to back up his notable claims, while also accusing the club of paying him unpaid wages.
Away from football, Gyan has previously ventured into politics, attempting to start a baby jet airline, buying his own boxing promotion company, pursuing his interests in the music industry and even setting up a charitable foundation dedicated to supporting “marginalized, disadvantaged and poor people”.
Talking about his charity work, Gyan was quoted by the newspaper Marka as saying, “I have not been fair to the youth and people of Ghana. I will no longer be affiliated with any political party.”
“I will continue my humanitarian work and support the youth of Ghana in my own way. There is nothing political about it. God bless our homeland of Ghana. Thank you.”
Gyan has also ventured into the real estate business, owning several buildings and apartments that he rents out to individuals and businesses.
In addition to his traditional business interests, he also owns over 30 buses that serve Accra, the capital of Ghana.
Gyan owns many gas stations throughout his home country, so he was able to get discounts on bus fuel.
In addition to vehicles, Mr Gyan also owns Paradise Pack Drinking Water Company, which introduced sachet water to the Ghanaian market.
