Asamoah Gyan, a prominent figure in football, has opened up about the challenges he faced following a significant increase in his earnings over a decade ago. Gyan, who once became one of the highest-paid players in the sport, revealed that many from his home country of Ghana sought to take advantage of his newfound wealth.
2015 marked a turning point for Gyan when he joined Shanghai SIPG in the Chinese Super League. His weekly earnings surged to an impressive £227,000. This financial leap positioned him among the elite, just behind stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who were earning between £350,000 and £400,000 at the time. Gyan’s substantial contract made him the eighth-highest-paid player in football, a remarkable achievement considering his career trajectory.
Gyan’s journey began in 2003 when he emerged from Liberty Professionals before moving to Udinese. He spent five years in Italy, which included a brief loan at Modena, before transferring to Rennes in France. In 2010, Sunderland broke their transfer record by signing him for £10 million. However, his tenure in England was short-lived; he moved on loan to Al Ain just a year later, where he reportedly earned £160,000 per week.
Despite his impressive performances, including 51 goals in 109 caps for the Ghana national team from 2003 to 2019, Gyan faced pressures that came with financial success. In an interview with former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, he shared his experiences of the emotional strain that accompanied his wealth.
“It was crazy. Like everybody will be expecting something from you. Family, friends, wherever you go, even people, when they don’t even know you,” Gyan explained. “As soon as you pop up, everybody wants you to give [them] money. We give, we give. I give most of the time, but sometimes people try to take advantage of it, and then I say, ‘You’re trying to… you’re trying to take advantage of it.’”
This constant expectation from his community took a toll on him, leading to feelings of frustration when he noticed manipulation attempts. Gyan’s period of wealth was relatively short-lived, as he scored only 8 goals in 26 appearances with Shanghai SIPG before continuing his career with clubs such as Kayserispor, NorthEast United, and Legon Cities. He eventually retired from professional football in 2021.
Gyan’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the pressures that come with fame and financial success, particularly for athletes who often find themselves in the spotlight. As he reflects on his career, Gyan’s experiences highlight the often unseen emotional challenges faced by professional players.
