From Billionaire Footballer to Successful Entrepreneur: The Incredible Journey of Asamoah Gyan.
Ranked the eighth highest-paid footballer in the world when he moved to China, Asamoah Gyan, the Ghanaian striker once famous for his time in the Premier League with Sunderland and at Rennes (2008-2010), saw his career take an unexpected turn. After facing financial struggles and having just 724 euros left in his bank account, he reinvented himself as a successful entrepreneur in his homeland.
A Rapid Ascent Before the Fall
After notable stints at Udinese, Stade Rennais, Sunderland, and Al-Ain, Asamoah Gyan signed with Shanghai SIPG in 2015 under the management of Sven-Goran Eriksson. This move propelled him to become the eighth highest-paid player in the world, with a weekly salary of 274,000 euros. By comparison, stars like Neymar and Luis Suarez earned around 305,000 euros at the same time.
However, his fortune quickly dwindled. In 2018, following a major family conflict, Gyan accused his wife Gifty of infidelity and denied the paternity of their three children, demanding DNA tests. These events, coupled with months of unpaid wages from his Turkish club Kayserispor, led the former footballer into a financial crisis. He revealed to GhanaWeb that his fortune, once estimated at millions, had plummeted to just 724 euros, with bank statements to prove it.
Une lourde décision judiciaire
En 2023, après confirmation de sa paternité par les tests ADN, un tribunal a ordonné à Gyan de verser une importante compensation à sa femme et à ses enfants. Celle-ci comprenait notamment une maison au Royaume-Uni, une maison de quatre chambres à Accra, deux voitures (une BMW et une Infiniti), ainsi qu’une station-service.
La renaissance d’un entrepreneur polyvalent
Malgré ces déboires, Asamoah Gyan a su rebondir. Aujourd’hui, il mène une carrière prolifique d’entrepreneur, multipliant les investissements dans divers secteurs. Promoteur de boxe, chanteur, fondateur de la compagnie aérienne Baby Jet, joueur de tennis, et philanthrope, Gyan s’est également imposé comme un magnat dans l’industrie alimentaire avec sa marque Mama Vits Noodles and Rice. Il est également actif dans le transport et la gestion de stations-service, prouvant ainsi qu’il n’a rien perdu de son ambition.
A Heavy Legal Decision
In 2023, after DNA tests confirmed his paternity, a court ordered Gyan to pay significant compensation to his wife and children. This included a house in the UK, a four-bedroom house in Accra, two cars (a BMW and an Infiniti), as well as a gas station.
The Reinvention of a Versatile Entrepreneur
Despite these setbacks, Asamoah Gyan managed to bounce back. Today, he leads a prolific entrepreneurial career, investing in various sectors. A boxing promoter, singer, founder of the airline Baby Jet, tennis player, and philanthropist, Gyan has also become a magnate in the food industry with his brand Mama Vits Noodles and Rice. He is also active in transportation and gas station management, proving that he has lost none of his ambition.
Asamoah Gyan embodies resilience and the ability to rise after adversity, turning his failures into opportunities to build a new life beyond football.
“I acknowledge that I have not been fair to the youth and the people of Ghana. From now on, I am not affiliated with any political party. My goal will be to continue my humanitarian work and support the Ghanaian youth in my way, without any political connotation. May God bless our homeland, Ghana. Thank you,” the former footballer recently stated, now fully dedicated to his Asamoah Gyan Foundation.
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