Dede Ayew: Why I chose Swansea
Ghana star Andre Ayew has defended his choice of Swansea, saying joining the Swans provide him with not only a long-cherished dream to play in the English Premiership but also better prospects of developing as a player.
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He put pen to a four-year deal last Wednesday after undergoing a successful medical early in the day and is set to become the club’s highest earner with wages in the region of £100,000 a week. In addition, he will line his pocked with an undisclosed signing-on fee as a free agent from French giants, Olympique Marseille.
The midfielder signed an estimated £5 million-a-year contract in the presence of his legendary father, Abedi Pele, and agent, Mark Mackay.
For Ayew, who moves to the Premiership with a high reputation having played against English sides in the UEFA Champions League and earned more than 60 caps for Ghana, the Premiership represents the next chapter in his flourishing career.
“I looked left and right and I thought Swansea was the best choice for me to grow as player,” Ayew told Sky Sports.
“I’m going to do everything to be ready to adapt but I’m lucky because I’ve played against a lot of English players in the Champions League.”
It was a big transfer coup by Swansea manager, Gary Monk, who fought off competition from West Ham and reported interest from Liverpool, AC Milan, AS Roma and Bayer Leverkusen to land the 25-year-old attacking midfielder.
While it was widely expected that Ayew would move to a big name European club instead of tying down his future with a mid-table side in South West Wales, he indicated that it was a well-thought-out decision, inspired mainly by a strong desire to get a lot of playing time at Swansea who have been looking to strengthen their attacking options since Wilfried Bony was sold to Manchester City in January.
Ironically, Ayew was handed the much vaunted No. 10 shirt vacated by Ivorian Bony.
“I felt that my desire to play in the Premier League and wanting to grow as a player meant that Swansea was the best solution for me in every way,” he told Swans TV in an interview.
“Football is all about growing up and becoming a better player and a better person.
“This is the next chapter. I’ve played in the Champions League etcetera, but now I want to make it in the Premier League.”
Ayew ends a long association with Marseille, where he rose through their youth ranks and made 181 appearances for the French giants, scoring 52 goals as he lifted two French League Cups.