Jordan Ayew has returned to Crystal Palace after spending a season on loan with the club last year, the club has confirmed on their official website.
The Ghanaian has joined the club from Swansea for a reported £2.5million, according to the BBC.
The 27-year-old played 20 times in the league for Crystal Palace last season, including 14 starts, scoring just the one goal.
Jordan Ayew has been at the Africa Cup of Nations tournament with his native country before they bowed out in the last 16 on penalties to Tunisia. While Ghana didn’t succeed, the tournament wasn’t a bad one for the attacker, chipping in with two goals throughout the tournament as he led the attacking line for the Black Stars.
He told the club website: “I am very happy. I really enjoyed myself last season.
“I enjoyed the stadium, the fans, the boys – they were really good to me – everything here was positive and that’s why I decided to continue with Crystal Palace.”
Ayew re-signing for Palace appears a deal which suits all parties: Crystal Palace need depth, Swansea need to clear the wage bill, and Jordan Ayew wants to play at the highest level.
The Eagles have seen Michy Batshuayi return to Chelsea, while the Swans have been crippled by players’ big wages, according to chairman Trevor Birch (via Wales Online).
Even if Ayew’s spell was hardly inspiring at Selhurst Park last season – with only one league goal – he proved important to Palace, especially when injuries came.
His 14 starts last season suggest that he has probably been brought in as a squad player. However, with Zaha’s future in the balance, he might find himself getting more game time than he expected.
Stats from WhoScored claim that the forward only played at centre-forward for the Eagles, but that doesn’t reflect the versatility of the player. According to information collated by Transfermarkt, he’s also made over 40 career appearances on either wing.
Despite Ayew’s poor goal return, his all-round stats reflect well on the attacker, so people should not be too quick to write him off.
Ayew is a very effective tool in defence. He has the joint fourth-highest amount of average tackles per game with 1.9, proving how useful he can be for breaking up play high up the pitch and for being a general nuisance for the opposition.
He also links play very well. He has the joint fifth-highest amount of key passes per game, with 0.8 – the same as midfielders James McArthur and Max Meyer.
Finally, Ayew comes third for Palace in terms of average times fouled per match with 1.3, only bettered by Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend (WhoScored).
On the basis of these stats, there is clearly enough to suggest that he is worth the layout of £2.5million.
On the whole, it’s a good signing for Palace.
Ayew is important in the sense that Palace need more numbers in the squad. He is a useful addition who is capable at this level, but from his performances last season, the Eagles will not want him starting every game as he lacked that killer instinct.
The versatility he adds means that Palace have another option on the wings if injuries were to arise.
It’s not a signing which will get every fan excited, but with 100 premier league appearances to his name, Palace would’ve been silly to miss out on him.
Crystal Palace fans, glad to see Ayew back at Selhurst Park? Let us know in the comment section below!
