Ghana’s all-time leading scorer, Asamoah Gyan, has revealed that the most fulfilling period of his decorated football career came not in Europe, but in the United Arab Emirates, where he enjoyed a remarkable spell with Al Ain.
Fresh from lighting up the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Gyan secured a blockbuster move to the Premier League, signing for Sunderland in a club-record £13 million deal from French outfit Stade Rennais. Expectations were sky-high, and the powerful striker made an immediate impact in England.
Yet in a move that stunned many at the time, Gyan departed the Premier League for the Middle East, joining UAE giants Al Ain on loan, a decision that sparked intense debate and criticism among fans and pundits alike.
Looking back, however, the former Liberty Professionals forward has no doubts about where his happiest and most successful moments were spent.
“Surprisingly, my best time was in the UAE. I did great, Sunderland, but unfortunately, I had to leave,” he told Rio Ferdinand on the podcast.
Gyan also sought to clarify the circumstances surrounding his controversial exit from Sunderland, dispelling long-held narratives about the transfer.
“There were a lot of stories coming up at that time, but it was Sunderland who asked me to leave because of the deal that came in,” he said.
According to the ex-Black Stars captain, the move was initially meant to be temporary, with all parties expecting a return to England after the loan spell.
“It was a loan deal, and the club felt they could capitalize on that deal. Thinking I could go for that deal, and then I will come back. That was what I was thinking at the time, but when I went there, I fell in love with the place, so I had to focus on the option to buy, and I went on to fall in love with the place,” Gyan added.
What followed was an extraordinary chapter in the striker’s career. Over five seasons at Al Ain, Gyan became a cult hero, terrorising defences and rewriting record books. He netted an astonishing 95 goals in just 83 appearances, cementing his status as one of the club’s greatest-ever players.
After conquering the UAE Pro League, Gyan would later take his talents to Asia, sealing a move to Chinese side Shanghai SIPG, but his time in the Gulf remains, by his own admission, the pinnacle of a storied football journey.
