Asamoah Gyan represented clubs in Italy, England, France, Turkey, India and China, but the ex-striker claimed he was left with just £597 in his bank account after his illustrious career

Asamoah Gyan's move to China banked him millions - but he lost them all
Asamoah Gyan went from earning a staggering amount of money in the Chinese Super League to having just £597 in his bank account.

The 39-year-old Ghanaian striker started his career at Liberty Professionals in 2003 before being snapped up by Udinese for an undisclosed fee later that year. Gyan spent five years with the Italian club, including a loan spell with Modena between 2004 and 2006, before Rennes signed him.

After netting 14 goals in 51 games for the French side, Sunderland shattered their club-record transfer fee to bring Gyan to Wearside for £10million in 2010. However, his stint in the North East was brief - he was loaned out to Al Ain in 2011 before a permanent deal was struck the following year.

In the United Arab Emirates, Gyan raked in a reported £160,000 per week - three times what he was earning with the Black Cats in the Premier League. His hefty salary was certainly justified as he scored an impressive 112 goals in 107 matches. In 2015, Gyan further boosted his wealth by securing a move to Shanghai SIPG under ex-England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.



Gyan splashed the cash he'd earned and ended up nearly bankrupt
And Gyan was said to be the eighth highest-paid footballer globally at the time, pocketing a cool £227k per week. However, the star striker only managed to score eight goals in 26 appearances for the team, much to the disappointment of fans who were expecting more in return for his generous salary.

After stints with Kayserispor, NorthEast United and Legon Cities, as well as notching up 51 goals in 109 games for Ghana, Gyan hung his boots up in 2021. And despite raking in a fortune through his footballing endeavours, he once shockingly revealed he was left with only £597 in the bank.

Gyan made a fortune over the course of his career
Speaking to MyNewsGh.com in 2018, he claimed: "My front and back, up and down is that money you see there." The football legend also showed his bank statements from Turkey, where he was plying his trade with Kayserispor at the time, backing up his startling claim - while also alleging unpaid wages by the club. Fast forward, and it seems fortune has favoured Gyan in his post-pitch life.

Off the field, Gyan has previously delved in the world of politics, tried to get a Baby Jet airline off the ground, made waves in the music scene, and even kicked off a charitable foundation aimed at lifting up the "vulnerable and needy members of marginalized society". Speaking of his efforts to give back, Gyan was recently quoted by Marca as saying: "I have not been fair to the youth and people of Ghana.

"From now on I am not affiliated with any political party. I will continue with my humanitarian work and help the youth of Ghana in my own way. Nothing political. God bless our homeland Ghana. Thank you."