New Deal with Palace Reduces Jordan Ayew’s Salary

Crystal Palace have officially extended contract with the Ghanaian forward Jordan Ayew, 32, in early November, but his salary remains to be one of the worst in the team. 

The deal solidifies Ayew’s place within the London-based club. The 32-year-old Ghanaian, known for his incredible speed and excellent dribbling, was considered a rising star but has yet to fully realize his talent. Nevertheless, Ayew has had several powerful seasons in France and England and, despite his age, remains an important part of Roy Hodgson’s squad today. 

The Nerve Africa tells you the story about how the player’s salary changed on his journey from Marseille to Crystal Palace. 

Steadfast Salary at Crystal Palace

Jordan Ayew was signed by Crystal Palace in the summer of 2019, following a season-long loan from Swansea City. Initially set for three years, his contract has undergone two extensions. The first extension brought him through to 2023, and the most recent one secures his services for the London-based team until the summer of 2025.

Ayew’s salary at Crystal Palace has remained consistent throughout his tenure with the club. Over the two-year period of the extended contract, the Ghanaian forward will earn €4,2 million without bonuses, equivalent approximately to £3,6 million. 

During 2023/24 season, Jordan Ayew’s earnings will amount to €2,081,765 or roughly €40,000 per week (£35,000). It is interesting to observe that his salary was reduced by almost one and a half times compared to his initial contract, which was set at almost €3 million. 

Crystal Palace’s Salary Landscape

Crystal Palace’s salary landscape in the 2023/2024 season reveals that the club’s total salary expenditure amounts to a significant €75,400,000 (£65,930,000) per year, equating to €1,450,241 per week (£1,267,885). The highest-paid players at the club are Dean Henderson, the England national team goalkeeper, and the French midfielder Michael Olise, each earning almost €6,000,000 annually or €114,000 per week.

Jordan Ayew, despite being a key figure in Roy Hodgson’s team, occupies the 20th spot in Crystal Palace’s salary hierarchy, making him one of the lower-paid foreign players on the team. His salary is surpassed by only French midfielder Naouirou Ahamada, who joined the club from Stuttgart in the winter of 2023.

Salary Comparison: How much did Ayew Earn before Crystal Palace?

Ayew began his professional career at Marseille, the same club his father Abedi Pele had represented in the 1990s, and where his older brother made his debut two years prior. He ended up winning six trophies and by 2013 his salary was estimated at €900,000 annually. Jordan embarked on a loan spell with Sochaux in the winter of 2014 before signing a four-year contract with Lorient, where he scored his first goal in Ligue 1. Signing a deal with Lorient decreased his salary by around 30% to almost €600,000. 

Within a season, Ayew moved to the English Premier League, joining Aston Villa. He spent the 2015/16 season with the Birmingham-based club, emerging as the team’s top scorer with seven goals. However, despite his goal-scoring contributions, Aston Villa couldn’t retain their Premier League status and was relegated for the following three years.

Not wishing to remain in the Championship, Jordan Ayew joined Swansea City, where he spent two seasons, staying until the Welsh club’s relegation in the 2017/18 season. In the same year, during the summer, the footballer joined his current club, Crystal Palace, for the first time on loan. His salary in Swansea City and Aston Villa varied from nearly €2 million to €3 million annually.