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Ghanaian international Asamoah Gyan's spell in the UAE and Asia has come to an end with the ace marksman moving to Europe to join Turkish club Kayserispor.
The 31-year-old, who endeared himself to the Al Ain faithful in four trophy-laden seasons with The Boss, signed a two-year deal with the Turkish Super Lig side. Gyan moves from Dubai club Al Ahli, with whom he had a season-long loan spell from Chinese side Shanghai SIPG.
Gyan's departure marks the end of a five-year stay in the UAE.
"An agreement has been reached with world famous footballer Asamoah Gyan to join Kayserispor," Kayserispor said in a statement on their official website.
"President Dr Erol Bedir, Gokhan Altintas, Tuna Kaya and the club officials signed the two-year contract with the Ghanian in Istanbul," the website added in the statement.
Gyan was initially supposed to join another Turkish club Bursaspor but the deal didn't go through.
Soon after the signing, Gyan and the others left from Istanbul for Kayseri, where he was given a hero's welcome by the Kayserispor fans.
"God is the reason for the season ....another chapter.....I will keep digging till it's done," Gyan wrote on twitter. He later said: "I never predict or tell people how many goals I'm going to score but I have my ambitions."
The former Udinese and Sunderland striker's stay with Al Ahli unfortunately was riddled with injuries during a hectic schedule that has also included time away on international duty with Ghana.
He made 14 appearances, amounting to 805 minutes, in the Arabian Gulf League, scoring six goals and one assist. Gyan also made seven appearances in the AFC Champions League, scoring two goals during those 242 minutes played.
His last game for the Red Knights was the AFC Champions League Round of 16 return leg against Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli, which they lost 3-1 at Rashid Stadium on May 30. Gyan had scored the lone goal from a penalty, in stoppage time.
Gyan was in sparkling form for Al Ain, plundering 95 goals in 83 appearances from 2011 to 2015 during which he won the Arabian Gulf League titles in 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2014-15. He also won the President's Cup in 2013-14 and the Arabian Gulf Super Cup in 2012.
Gyan was also the Arabian Gulf League top scorer in 2011-12 (22 goals), 2012-13 (31 goals) and 2013-14 (29 goals). He was also the top scorer in the AFC Champions League in 2014 with 12 goals. In his lone season with Al Ahli, Gyan won the Arabian Gulf Cup.
Gyan, is the most capped player for Ghana, making 104 appearances and the team's captain is also their leading scorer with 51 goals.
james@khaleejtimes.com
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