Andre Ayew Returns to France in the Twilight of His Career: Salary and Prospects of the Ghanaian Captain

To secure a place in Ligue 1 at the end of the 2023/2024 season, Le Havre AC has signed a contract with Ghanaian Andre Ayew, who spent a considerable amount of time playing in France at the beginning of his career. Now, the experienced winger will not only try to help the team to avoid relegation, but also aim to secure a new agreement that will allow him to remain in Europe in the nearest future.

What is Andre Ayew’s Salary at Le Havre AC?

The 34-year-old Ghanaian national team winger joined the French club in November 2023 with an agreement running until June 30, 2024. For the 2023/2024 season spent in France, the Ghanaian footballer will earn €1,500,000, which amounts to €28,846 per week.

Team Saalry Overview: Ayew is the Highest-Paid African Player in the Team

In the 2023/2024 season, Le Havre AC’s total expenditure on salaries amounts to €11,870,000 annually, or €228,269 per week. Only three teams in Ligue 1 spend less on salaries. The highest-paid player in the team is the Daler Kuzyaev. The Russian national team midfileder receives €1,800,000 per year, or €34,615 per week. 

Andre Ayew, in turn, ranks second in the salary rating. Additionally, the Ghanaian winger leads the list of the highest-paid African players in the French team. The next player after him, Guinean midfielder Abdoulaye Toure, earns €400,000 less.

Furthermore, Andre Ayew ranks second among the highest-paid Ghanaian players in Ligue 1. Only AS Monaco FC defender Mohammed Salisu earns more than him, with his salary being more than twice as much. Closing the top three, Olympique Lyonnais winger Ernest Nuamah earns almost half as much.

Career Salary Comparison 

Despite remaining a key player for Olympique de Marseille, in the last season with the French club in 2015, Ayew’s salary decreased by €360,000. Nevertheless, immediately after moving to Wales, the Ghanaian’s earnings increased by more than one and a half times. 

Becoming Swansea City A.F.C.’s top scorer with 12 goals, Ayew received an offer from West Ham. The 2016/2017 season began for the Ghanaian in London, and his salary increased by more than €609,000, becoming the highest in Andre Ayew’s career and remaining so until the loan agreement with Fenerbahce S.K.

Moving to Turkey led to a decrease in salary by almost half. However, after returning to Swansea City A.F.C., the Ghanaian’s earnings returned to the highest level. Nevertheless, after the 2019/2020 season, the winger’s salary consistently decreased. Initially, in the last season with the Welsh team, it went down by almost €305,000. 

Then, after signing a contract with Nottingham Forest F.C., Ayew’s income decreased by more than one and a half times. Returning to France also led to a reduction in salary, this time by almost half.

Market Value: Continuous Decline after 29 Years, Despite Achievements

Ayew’s transfer value began to grow rapidly after returning to Olympique de Marseille from a loan spell at AC Arlesien. In the 2010/2011 season, he scored 13 goals, was named the team’s best player, and his transfer value increased by more than three times. 

Over the next two years, the Ghanaian firmly established himself in the French club’s starting lineup and increased his market value by another 1.5 times. However, in the middle of the 2013/2014 season, Andre Ayew suffered a meniscus injury, which not only kept him out for three months but also led to a decrease in value by three million euros. The transfer fee remained the same until the move to the Premier League.

In two seasons in England, the Ghanaian managed to become Swansea City A.F.C.’s top scorer, move to West Ham United F.C., and reach the peak of his transfer value: by the end of the 2016/2017 season, the winger’s transfer fee had increased by one and a half times. However, in the next season, Ayew stopped making it into the starting lineup, and his market value began to decline: by the time of the loan to Fenerbahce S.K., it had halved. 

Even the following two successful seasons in the Championship, during which the Ghanaian winger scored 35 goals, did not affect the decrease in value. Before moving to Qatar in the 21/22 season, Andre Ayew’s transfer fee had fallen by more than 3.5 times. Returning to Europe also failed to increase the transfer fee: it decreased by another half, so now Transfermarkt values the Ghanaian footballer at €1.2 million.

National Team Achievements

Having dual citizenship, Andre Ayew initially planned to represent the French national team. However, in 2007, he followed in his father’s footsteps and made his debut for Ghana. Two years later, as captain, the winger led the team to victory in the Africa Cup of Nations.Together with the Ghanaian national team, the winger participated in 11 major tournaments: three World Cups (2010, 2014, and 2022) and eight Africa Cup of Nations. Andre Ayew is the record holder for the Ghanaian national team in terms of matches played: over 17 years, the winger appeared on the field in 114 games, scoring 24 goals and providing seven assists.

Football and Financial Prospects

Debuting for Le Havre only at the end of November 2023, Andre Ayew has played only eight matches in all competitions for the team. Nevertheless, the winger managed to score a brace against FC Lorient. Currently, the Ghanaian has minimal impact on the results of Le Havre AC. However, the more successful the club performs this season, the more likely it is that the French will extend the contract with the experienced footballer.