Asamoah Gyan, the Ghanaian football icon who scored his country's first World Cup goal in 2006, was left with just £597 in his bank account after burning through a multi-million-pound fortune. At his peak, the former Sunderland striker was the eighth highest-paid player in world football, earning a weekly wage of £227,000 at Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG.
From Riches to Rags
Gyan's financial downfall became public in 2018 when he told Ghanaian media that his bank balance stood at a meagre £597. "My front and back, up and down is that money you see there," he said. The striker had splashed out on a gold-plated Rolls Royce and other luxuries, but claimed he had not been paid for several months.
Legal and Personal Turmoil
Compounding his financial woes, Gyan was embroiled in a bitter legal annulment dispute with his ex-wife. The courtroom battle included accusations of infidelity and questions over paternity, leading to DNA tests that confirmed he was the biological father of his three children. The court ordered him to transfer several assets to his former wife, including a UK residence, a four-bedroom house in Ghana, a petrol station, and two vehicles.
Life After Football
According to a 2024 report from Spanish outlet Marca, Gyan has since turned his life around and now lives in a mansion in Accra. He has expanded his business interests, working as a boxing promoter, philanthropist, and food and beverage entrepreneur. He also founded an airline called Baby Jet, which obtained a license from the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority but ceased operations in 2019 without completing a single flight.
Political Ambitions and Humanitarian Work
The 40-year-old briefly aligned himself with Ghana's centre-right New Patriotic Party but later withdrew, stating in 2024: "I have not been fair to the youth and people of Ghana. From now on, I am not affiliated with any political party. I will continue my humanitarian work and help the youth of Ghana in my own small way. Nothing political."
World Cup Legacy
Gyan remains a legendary figure in Ghanaian football, having scored the nation's first World Cup goal in 2006 and leading the Black Stars in 2010, where his missed last-gasp penalty against Uruguay prevented a historic semi-final appearance. Despite the financial setbacks, his impact on the sport endures.
