Image:Asamoah Gyan: Staying with Al-Ain on a permanent deal
Asamoah Gyan has left Sunderland for Al-Ain in the United Arab Emirates on a permanent deal following his controversial loan move.
Ghana striker makes permanent switch to UAE side after loan
Asamoah Gyan has left Sunderland for Al-Ain in the United Arab Emirates on a permanent deal.
The striker made a shock loan move to the Middle East last August, where he finished as highest scorer in the Etisalat Pro-League with 22 goals, helping Al-Ain to the title.
The decision stunned then-manager Steve Bruce, who said the player had told him he was happy at Sunderland.
The 26-year-old has never met Martin O'Neill, who subsequently replaced Steve Bruce after Gyan's departure on loan.
Towards the end of last season O'Neill admitted that Gyan was unlikely to return to the Stadium of Light after the end of the deal, saying "you wouldn't really want somebody who is really unwilling to come back to the football club."
Gyan moved to the Stadium of Light from Rennes in 2010 after a good World Cup with Ghana, although he missed a penalty in the dying seconds of extra time against Uruguay following Luiz Suarez's notorious deliberate handball.
He scored on his Sunderland debut, and went to notch 11 goals in 37 appearances for the Wearsiders.
