The former Premier League striker had just three figures in his bank account despite being one of football’s top earners.
Asamoah Gyan was once one of the highest paid footballers in the world (Image: FIFA via Getty Images)
The former Premier League cult hero nearly lost everything after burning through the multi-million pound fortune he had amassed during his playing days. Asamoah Gyan was once one of the 10 highest-paid players in world football, but things changed quickly and dramatically.
The striker is perhaps best known for his World Cup appearances in the Ghana shirt, having played for the Black Stars in 2006 and 2010. When Carlos Queiroz’s Class of 2026 takes on England in Boston on Tuesday, many minds will be reminded of his infamous penalty miss against Uruguay in the 2010 quarter-finals.
Gyan, now 40, started his career in his native Ghana before being scouted by Udinese as a teenager. The striker made quite a name for himself at the Italian club and during his loan spell at Modena, before going on to score for Rennes and then Sunderland.
His move to England saw him become a new Sunderland record, scoring 11 goals in 37 appearances, including a last-minute equalizer against bitter rivals Newcastle. But he didn’t stay for long, moving to Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates and then to Shanghai SIPG in China, where he reportedly earned a staggering £227,000 a week, making him the eighth highest-paid player in the world.
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Gann even splurged on a gold Rolls Royce, but lost almost all of his money just a few years later. Back in 2018, he admitted that he went without pay for several months and was effectively penniless.
In an interview with Ghanaian media, he revealed that his bank balance was only 597 pounds. “My front and back, top and bottom, I see money there,” he said.
Gyan was once Sunderland’s record signing (Image: Scott Heavey, Getty Images)
Adding to Gyan’s dire situation, he became embroiled in a bitter battle with his ex-wife to break off their engagement. Their court disputes included accusations of infidelity and possible paternity, which ultimately led to DNA testing.
The court found that Gyan was indeed the biological father of his three children. He was also instructed to hand over various assets to his ex-wife, including property in the UK, a four-bedroom house in Ghana, a petrol station and two cars.
Gyan has since rebuilt his life and moved into a mansion in Accra, Ghana’s capital, in 2024, as reported by Marca newspaper. He reportedly expanded his activities as a boxing promoter, philanthropist, and food and beverage entrepreneur.
The former footballer also founded his own airline company, Baby Jet, which was granted a license to operate by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority. However, the venture never took off and closed in 2019 without ever completing a flight.
Mr. Gyan also moved into politics, at one point aligning himself with the center-right New Patriotic Party. He later announced that he was distancing himself from the party to focus on humanitarian work.
“I was unfair to the youth and people of Ghana. I will no longer be affiliated with any political party,” he said in a statement.
“I will continue my humanitarian work and support the youth of Ghana in my own small way. There is nothing political about it. I hope all political parties can hold peaceful elections. God bless our homeland.”
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