André Ayew

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Personal information
Andre Ayew

Full name	André Dede Ayew
Date of birth	December 17, 1989 (1989-12-17) (age 18)
Place of birth	Seclin, France
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9+¹⁄₂ in)
Playing position	Striker/Winger
Club information
Current club	Olympique de Marseille
Number	29
Youth clubs
2005–2007	Olympique de Marseille
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
2007–	Olympique de Marseille	9 (0)
National team²
2007–	Ghana	10 (0)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 May 2008. ² National team caps and goals correct as of 30 May 2008. * Appearances (Goals)

André "Dede" Ayew (born December 17, 1989 in Seclin, France), is a Ghanaian-French footballer who plays for French Ligue 1 club Olympique de Marseille. He is the Son of Abedi Pele and the nephew of Kwame Ayew.

1 Career
2 Arsenal
3 International career
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Career

Ayew is a prodiguous left-footed attacking midfield product of the Marseille Youth academy. He joined Marseille as a trainee in 2005 and impressed by scoring 11 goals with the second team in 2006–07 season. His younger brother, Jordan, is also on the books of the Marseille youth side.

He was born in Lille, France, when his father was playing Professional football at OSC Lille and has dual French-Ghanaian nationality. The teenage prodigy has long been touted as one of the best youngsters in the France and actually received four call-ups into the French National Youth team, but was prevented from joining them because of minor injuries.^[1]

On 28 May 2007, the young midfielder was promoted to the Marseille professional team and signed a three-year deal to keep him at the club until June 2010. "I am grateful to God for giving me the opportunity to play for the first team of this great club," Dede told BBC Sport, "I know this is the result of the hard work I have done since joining the club two years ago. I will not let this opportunity slip past me as I will do everything possible to justify the confidence reposed in my ability."^[2]

Marseille coach Albert Emon praised Dede's performance after the teenager played in all pre-season matches for the French giants.

But the youngster is aware that he faces an uphill task to win a first-team shirt at the club where his father won the 1993 UEFA Champions League and also won the French league titles in 1988–89, 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93.

"I was very happy when I was told by journalists that the coach praised me during press conference, I am also aware that we have a large squad of highly experienced players so I am patient and I will wait for my chance." Dede said.

On November 6, 2007 he made his full debut^[3]^[4] start for Marseille during the UEFA Champions League 2007-08 away game against F.C. Porto at the Estádio do Dragão, Porto, Portugal. He won all-round praise in the French media^[5] for his superb performances especially in the individual match-up with Porto defender José Bosingwa^[6]^[7] shrugged off the post-match comments stressing that keeping his place in the side will be his biggest challenge. "It is good to hear the praise from everybody but the most important thing is to stay in the squad and play better in every game," Ayew told BBC Sport.^[8]

[edit] Arsenal

According to British^[9] and French^[10]^[11] media reports, Ayew has been closely watched by Arsenal scouts,^[12] with the possibility of a summer deal and a switch to the Emirates Stadium.^[13]^[14]

[edit] International career

He is the son of legendary Olympique de Marseille and former Ghanaian maestro and captain Abedi Pelé.^[15] The teenage prodigy is keen to emulate his father, who also won his first Ghana cap as a young 17 year old in the 1982 African Cup of Nations and won the African Footballer of the Year award three consecutive times in the 1990s as the captain of the Black Stars. "Obviously my first choice is to play for my country, for the people of Ghana and to represent Africa in the right way in the eyes of the World.

"Every father wants his son to follow in his footsteps and if God permits I want to better what my father did for our country and Africa. "But if the country that my father did everything for doesn't give me the opportunity, I have to respect the French coaches who have shown confidence in me".^[1]

After playing so well at Youth level and making it into the professional l'OM team, a senior International call up was imminent. On 7 August 2007, young 17 year old André was called up by Ghana Coach Claude Le Roy for a FIFA International friendly match against Senegal in the New Den Stadium in London, England on 21 August 2007.^[16] He made his debut for Ghana after coming on as a substitute in the 1–1 draw game.^[17]