It is no doubt that ghanaians have contributed greatly to the Premier League which is widely regarded as the most exciting and watched league in the world.
Tony Yeboah was the first player to lift the black star flag of Ghana in the English Premier League when he joined the Leeds United side in 1995.
The likes of other Ghanaians namely Odartey Lamptey,Stephen Nyarko, Michael Essien, John Paintsil, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Sulley Ali Muntari, Jeffrey Schlupp, Daniel Amartey, Christian Atsu, Andre Ayew, Jordan Ayew have graced the football pitches all over England and Wales.
Tony Yeboah
The former goal machine after a successful spree in the German Bundesliga that saw him win two top scorers award and emerged as the first African to win the top scorer in the German topflight league, he joined Leeds United for a transfer fee of £3.4 million in January 1995. The transfer was described as the robbery of the year, because the English side bought him at what is described a cheap price.
Yeboah then set the pitch on fire with his dribbles and pace, this made him become an offensive threat to defenders in the league.
Tony Yeboah imprinted himself on the lips of Leeds United fans, as his name is always chanted while on the playing pitch.
He had remarkable goals attributed to his stats, such as the ones scored against Liverpool FC and Wimbledon. His brilliant goal against Wimbledon was voted the greatest goal in the history of the Premier League during the 25th anniversary celebration of the English Premier League.
He also scored three hat-tricks for Leeds; the first against Ipswich Town in the Premier League at Elland Road on 5th April, 1995, which made him the second foreign player to score a league hat-trick for Leeds United.
In 47 games, Tony Yeboah scored 24 goals to become Ghana’s all-time top scorer in the English Premier League, a record which stood for many years until Jordan Ayew equaled in 2020.
Micheal Essien
The blues side, Chelsea cut out a whooping sum of £24.4 million to get Michael Essien to the Stamford bridge from Olympique Lyonnais in 2005. This huge transfer buy made his fee Africa’s most expensive transfer.
Essien then became the key schema in Jose Mourinho’s squad. He perfectly played the at the midfield and the right full back, and which made him to find the end of the net several times, with some great goals coming from his right foot to make the Blues win some crucial games. Notable amongst the goals were those against Arsenal, Everton, Valencia and Fc Barcelona.
Michael Essien, during his place time in England, won two English Premier League titles, four FA Cups, and a UEFA Champions League title. The 37-year-old during his time at Chelsea scored 25 goals in 256 games he featured.
Asamoah Gyan
The ex Black Stars skipper spent a season and a month in the Premier League, but was impactful within the short space of time in England.
Sunderland coach, Steve Bruce, secure the services of Asamoah Gyan from Rennes in the French League after the FIFA World Cup. He had great confidence in Gyan, and the Ghanaian striker didn’t disappoint. Gyan played well in his first season, scoring 10 goals in his debut season for the Black Cats to win the top scorer in his club side.
He however, left the club a month into the 2011/12 season to Al Ain.
Andre Ayew
The Black Stars skipper was one of the few players that did well to win the Premier League Player of the Month in their debut season. He joined Swansea City in August 2015, and went ahead to win the best player of the English Premier League in the month of August, after scoring against Chelsea and Manchester United
He became Swansea City top scorer in the 2014/2015 season, and his skillful performance attracted bigger offers. West Ham United got through with the interest of Ayew’s signature to play for the club side after a staggering transfer offer of £20.5 million.
Andre Ayew the ball past behind keepers 21 times in the Premier League, to make him the number 3 Ghanaian top scorer of all time in the EPL.
Jordan Ayew
Jordan Ayew is indeed having a swell time his best season in the Premier League since he joined from French Ligue 1 side, Lorient in 2015. He started life in England with Aston Villa, but joined Swansea City after the club were relegated. At both Villa and Swansea City, he scored 14 Premier League goals, before joining Crystal Palace on a loan deal.
In the half of the season, he played for Palace in the 2018/2019 season, and had a goal. Before the premier league season was disrupted with the coronavirus pandemic, he has had 9 goals, making him the highest goal scorer for his club.
The 28-year-old skipper has scored against best sides, Manchester United and against Arsenal in both home and away games, and his total contribution to team play has been quite exceptional.
Jordan Ayew, is now tied head-to-head with Tony Yeboah as the greatest Ghanaian scorer in the English Premier League with 24 goals apiece prior to the setting in of coronavirus that put sporting activities on hold.
