World Cup Swans: Andre Ayew

As the 2018 World Cup draws closer, the official website takes a look back at the players who have turned out for the Swans and played on the biggest stage of all.

Today, our focus turns to Andre Ayew.

AT THE SWANS

Ayew joined the Swans on a free transfer in June 2015 after his Marseille contract expired.

He made a bright start to life in SA1, scoring on his debut in a 2-2 draw against reigning Premier League champions Chelsea, then netting the equaliser in a 2-1 victory over Manchester United at the Liberty.

Ayew scored 12 goals in 35 appearances in all competitions before departing the Swans for West Ham United in August 2016.

However, the Ghanaian returned to South Wales in a club-record deal just 17 months later.

He played a further 12 times at the back end of the 2017-18 season but could not prevent the Swans' relegation from the Premier League.

AT THE WORLD CUP

Following an impressive season on loan at Arles-Avignon from Marseille, Ayew was named in Milovan Rajevac’s Ghanaian squad for the 2010 World Cup.

The 20-year-old played the full 90 minutes as his country opened with a late 1-0 victory over Serbia in Group D, as well as their 1-1 draw with Australia.

He also started in the Black Stars’ 1-0 defeat by Germany.

Ghana progressed to the second round and Ayew played the full 120 minutes as his country beat USA 2-1 after extra time.

However, a yellow card in that game – his second of the tournament – ruled him out of the quarter-final showdown with Uruguay. The South Americans prevailed in a penalty shootout to break Ghanaian hearts.

Fast-forward four years and Ayew – now a regular at Marseille – was back at the finals with Ghana under James Kwesi Appiah.

Once again, he was a regular feature in Brazil, playing the full 90 minutes in the opening Group G match against USA.

Ayew scored his first World Cup goal to equalise courtesy of a neat finish with the outside of his boot in the 82nd minute, but it was not enough to prevent a 2-1 defeat.

The forward also played the full 90 minutes of his country’s second game against eventual champions Germany.

Once again, he was on target with the equalising goal thanks to a wonderful header in the 54th minute as Ghana earned a creditable 2-2 draw.

Ayew then played the opening 81 minutes of the Black Stars’ final game against Portugal, where a 2-1 defeat saw them eliminated from the competition.