Andre Ayew returns to Le Havre

• Posted on October 9, 2024October 9, 2024
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Andre ‘Dede’ Ayew made a remarkable return to Ligue 1 outfit Le Havre after initially spending six months at the club last season. His return to France (although on a one-year deal) marks his fourth stint in French football, previously playing for Marseille, Lorient, and Le Havre.

Ayew, who is well-equipped with French culture and football, was born on December 17, 1989, and hails from Seclin (a commune in the arrondissement of Lille).

The familiar sight of numerous French fans trooping to games, coupled with the emphasis the indigenous people place on football, is something Dede is too well aware of.

His resonation with French culture and lifestyle has seen Dede, who holds dual nationality (France and Ghana), flourish in Ligue 1 over the years.

Despite the weight of expectations – being the son of the legendary Abedi Pele – on his shoulders, Dede has been able to alleviate the pressure throughout his career by consistently producing clutch moments for club and country.

The 34-year-old’s globetrotting career has seen him play in the English Premier League, French Ligue 1, Turkish League, and Qatari league.

Irrespective of laying down a marker across the various leagues, Dede’s major successes have come in the French league, particularly with boyhood club  Marseille.

Andre spent eight years with Marseille before eventually leaving to join Swansea in 2015, albeit going out on loan to Lorient and Arles-Avignon in that span.

His 44-goal tally in 160 Marseille games is the highest in his career, depicting his seamless adaptation to the league.

After a torrid time in recent years, Andre has struggled to nail down a starting berth for club and country; losing his place in the Black Stars squad as a result.

After his contract ran out with Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2023, Ayew joined Le Havre in November 2023, signing a contract until the end of the season. The Black Stars skipper amassed 20 appearances across all competitions, scoring six times in that period.

Dede’s rich history with French football saw him extend his record as the all-time Ghanaian top scorer in Ligue 1 to 52 goals, making the second-most appearances of any Ghanaian (201) in the league, at the end of his stint with Le Havre.

Le Havre finished the 2023-24 season on 32 points, finishing three points adrift of the relegation zone as Andre Ayew’s immense contributions in the second half of the season helped the club preserve their league status ahead of the new campaign.

Ayew, despite his brief stay at the club, endeared himself to Le Havre’s fans and management – with his five league goals the joint-most of any player in the club last term.

He has an uphill task in his second stint with the club as they linger in a precarious position (15) on the league log – with six points after seven games.

The veteran’s expertise will be required after October’s international break when Le Havre take on Lyon at the Stade Oceane.