Former Black Stars skipper Asamoah Gyan is a free agent after his one-year loan stint with big-spending Ghana Premier League side Legon Cities Football Club came to an end yesterday.
Gyan who turns 36 on November 22 joined the Royals for the 2020/2021 season and although his signing generated a lot of buzz around the club, he failed to leave a lasting impression on the pitch – he scored no goal with no assist in six appearances amid concerns about his fitness and motivation.
The Communications Director of Legon Cities, Mr Kwame Dwomoh Agyemang said Gyan’s departure marks a change of direction for the club under new Cities coach Maxwell Konadu.
“We had a one year deal with the player and the one year has since elapsed,” Mr Agyemang told the Graphic Sports in an interview.
“The two parties have decided to go their separate ways, so the deal was not renewed. After the contract was reviewed, the club and the new manager wanted to go in a certain direction and as a club, we believe that should support the coach”.
Gyan with Coach Konadu last sseason
Gyan is not the only high-profile player who departed the club in the off-season clear-out. Former captain and veteran goalkeeper Fatau Dauda, as well as, former Kumasi Asante Kotoko midfielder Baba Mahama, youth star Matthew Anim Cudjoe and HB Köge loanee Victorien Adebayor also joined the exit train.
The Graphic Sports learnt that former Black Stars goalie Dauda was offered a goalkeeping coach role with the club but he reached an agreement to leave the club to continue his playing career elsewhere.
Teenage sensation Cudjoe joined Cities on a season-long loan and has now returned to his parent club Young Apostles Football Club in the Division One League.
Mr Agyemang also disclosed that Baba Mahama – who was signed last year on transfer deadline day – and Richmond Antwi also secured mutual agreements to leave the club.
Meanwhile, Adebayor returned to HB Köge and is on the verge of completing a short-term loan to the Egyptian Premier League side Enppi SC.
New-look squad
Interestingly, Cities who will be looking to better last season’s 13th-place finish signed a whopping 15 players heading into the new season, retaining only 11 players from that campaign.
Their new signings include; Rashid Mohammed, Croster Obour Adu, Osman Amadu, Willian Essu (loan), Augustine Dosu, Asamoah Boateng Afriyie, Issah Mohammed Mubarak, Abdul Rahman, Hashim Ali and Hamza Abdul Nassiru.
The rest are Samuel Ayitey Okai, Nii Gyashie Acquaye Bortey, Nafiu Sulemana, Michel Otou and Eric Ofori Antwi.
Credit: Graphic Online
You must be logged in to post a comment.