Ghanaian football legend Asamoah Gyan has revealed that his time in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) stands out as the most fulfilling period of his career.
Following his breakthrough at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Gyan moved from French side Stade Rennais to English club Sunderland in a £13 million, four-year deal. However, he soon went on loan to UAE side Al Ain—a move that drew widespread criticism at the time.
Reflecting on his Gulf experience during a conversation with Rio Ferdinand, Gyan said, “Surprisingly, my best time was in the UAE. I did great at Sunderland, but unfortunately, I had to leave.”
He explained how the deal came about: “There were a lot of stories at the time, but it was Sunderland who asked me to leave because of the deal that came in. It was a loan deal, and the club felt they could capitalise on it. I thought I would go for the deal and then return, but when I went there, I fell in love with the place. I had to focus on the option to buy, and I went on to fall in love with the place.”
During his five seasons with Al Ain, Gyan scored an impressive 95 goals in 83 appearances before moving on to Chinese side Shanghai SIPG.
This revelation sheds light on a period of Gyan’s career that many fans may have overlooked but which clearly holds a special place in the football icon’s journey.
