Many football fans might expect Jordan Ayew to be a prolific goal scorer, but that’s not his primary role. So why do Premier League coaches continue to value him despite his modest goal tally? And how does a forward in his early 30s remain so relevant in the world greatest league? The answer lies in Jo’s unique style of play. As the son of the legendary Abedi Pele, Jordan Ayew embodies a distinct type of forward known as a Ball Carrier.
His role on the pitch often involves holding the ball to frustrate opponents, especially when his team needs to retain possession or win free kicks in dangerous areas. This tenacity has earned him the distinction of being one of the most fouled players in the Premier League for two consecutive seasons. Fans often wonder how Jo manages to maintain this relentless style. Beyond his on-field prowess, this article delves into Jordan Ayew’s life story and the journey that has shaped his remarkable football career. Let’s explore the essence of his story.
The Secret Behind Jordan Ayew’s Longevity: A Story from Childhood
Preamble:
This is the story of Jordan Ayew, a forward hailing from a prestigious Ghanaian football family. It shares insights into his childhood, early life, and family, including his parents, Maha Ayew and the legendary Abedi Pele, his wife Denise, and his brothers Andre and Ibrahim. We’ll also touch on his journey as a father and more.
In short, this is the journey of a Ghanaian professional footballer from his early days to the moment he became a household name. To give you a taste of his life story, we’ve put together a cradle-to-rise gallery offering a snapshot of Jordan Ayew’s biography.
This is the childhood and rise to fame story of Jordan Ayew, the renowned son of a Ghanaian legend known for his exceptional skill in ball retention.
Jordan Ayew Childhood Story:
For Biography starters, he bears the nickname “Jo.” His full name is Jordan Pierre Ayew. He was born on the 11th day of September 1991 in the prefecture of Marseille in France.
He is the third of four children born to his mother, Maha Ayew, and to his father, Abedi Pele (a professional football player at the time).
Jordan Ayew’s parents, Abedi and Maha.
He is a Ghanaian and French national of black ethnicity with West African family origins. Jordan was initially raised in a rich family background setting in Ghana.
This was where he grew up alongside his younger brother, Andre Ayew. And little sister Imani Ayew.
“I was raised by my grandparents in Ghana because my mum and older step-brother Ibrahim Ayew travelled with my dad wherever he went in line with the demands of his professional football career.
It wasn’t until the latter days of my dad’s career that I was allowed to follow him”.
Recalled Jordan of his upbringing.
Jordan Ayew was raised in Ghana during his formative years. Image Credit: Instagram.
Thus, it was only natural that young Ayew grew up watching Football Games on television to get a picture of his dad’s career engagements.
Away from watching matches, Ayew was naturally given to do only one thing. That is, playing football with his younger brother and friends.
He did that without being pressured to take the sport seriously. Neither did he dream of becoming a professional footballer like his father.
Jordan Ayew Education:
By the time Ayew was aged 9, his natural love for football was already known. Especially to his dad. Jordan’s father – thanks to a nearly decade-long career in France – facilitated his son’s career. Abedi Pele made his son gain entry into Lyon-Duchère’s youth academy.
Jordan Ayew was aged 9 when he began his career buildup at Lyon-Duchère’.
It was at the youth academy or boyhood club that Ayew spent six years learning skillsets, honing his technical finesse and lacing his boots ready for a career that he never knew would take him places, beginning from Marseille.
Jordan Ayew Biography – Early Career Life:
Ayew was only a 13-year-old boy when a move to Marseille youth systems came knocking at his doors. This is a 1993 Champions League-winning French team once coached by Roberto De Zerbi (as of 2024), which has the likes of Mason Greenwood and once boasted of having big names like Didier Deschamps.
Although Marseille had a standing rule that demanded that young players turn 15 before joining their academy, the French club bent their own rules to snap up the blossoming hotshot and delightfully watched him rise through the ranks.
Rising through the ranks: A rare photo of Jo at Marseille.
The then football prodigy perfected his ascension to first-team football when he signed his first professional contract with Marseille in the year 2009.
He went on to make his club debut in a scoring effort that helped Marseille record a 2-1 Ligue 1 victory over Lorient on the 16th of December 2009.
Road To Fame Story:
There is no denying the fact that Ayew had plenty of highs at Marseille and fared considerably well when he was loaned to Sochaux.
Neither was he found lacking when he had a one-year spell with Lorient during the 2014–2015 season.
Thereafter, Ayew was gradually plunged into the abyss of professional challenges when he joined Aston Villa but couldn’t help the English side avoid relegation.
Neither could he explain why Swansea City suffered relegation a year after he joined the club.
Swansea’s slip into relegation did not speak well of the club’s strikers, including Jo. Image Credit: Mirror.
Jordan Ayew Biography Facts – Rise To Fame Story:
The forward eventually found reasons to smile when he joined Crystal Palace on loan for the 2018–19 season and gave The Glaziers convincing reasons that he was a striker that they needed and deserved.
As a result, it wasn’t surprising when the club announced that it had obtained Ayew’s signature for a three-year deal on the 25th of July 2019.
Jordan Ayew signed a three-year deal with Crystal Palace on the 25th of July 2019. Image Credit: Instagram.
Fast forward to the time of writing: Ayew has earned his place among Crystal Palace’s finest strikers, as evidenced by his brilliant ball handling and penchant for giving defenders zero time on the ball.
What more? Leicester City Fans, as of the start of the 2024/2025 season, are starting to warm up to new signing Ayew as they know well that the striker’s zero-to-hero rise was borne out of his sheer resilience to do what was best for the club. The rest, as they say, is history.
Love Life:
Away from Ayew’s breath-taking career story, happenings in his love life first made headlines in 2015 when he was alleged to be romantically involved with a certain Amanda, known to be the wife of his Ghanaian compatriot – Afriyie Acquah.
The controversy became widespread when a leaked audiotape, purported to be from Amanda, had her confess that she was Ayew’s girlfriend, lover and almost wife.
Jordan Ayew was alleged to be romantically involved with Afriyie Acquah’s wife, Amanda.
Although Ayew is – at the time of writing – married to his beautiful girlfriend-turned-wife Denise, not much is known about when the couple began dating or walked down the aisle.
The forward’s marriage with Denise is blessed with two children. They include a little-known daughter and a young son.
Jordan Ayew with his wife Denise and adorable children. Image Credit: Instagram.
Jordan Ayew Family Life:
Think of a few football geniuses who count their family as blessings; think of Jordan Ayew and peruse through facts about the striker’s family members, beginning with his loving parents.
About Jordan Ayew’s father:
Abedi Ayew is Jordan’s dad. He was born on the 5th of November 1964 and worked as a professional football player for the better part of Jordan’s early life.
The father of 4 is – at the time of writing – the head coach and president of the Ghana professional football club Nania FC.
Regarded as the perfect model of his legendary father, Abedi is close to his children, particularly his three sons, whom he mentored to become professional football players.
A throwback photo of Jordan Ayew with his father, Abedi Pele. Image Credit: Instagram.
About Jordan Ayew’s mother:
Maha Ayew is Jordan’s mother. Like her husband, Maha is of West African family roots.
Although Maha is a director and shareholder of Nania Football Club, she creates time to be with her children, whom she helped raise.
She is also proud of what they have grown up to become and never ceases to lend them her unconditional support.
Jordan Ayew’s mom with her son.
About Jordan Ayew’s siblings:
Jordan has an older paternal step-brother identified as Ibrahim Ayew as well as two younger siblings identified as Andrew Ayew & Imani Ayew.
Like Jordan, Ibrahim is a professional football player. He plays for Europa FC as a defensive midfielder.
Jordan Ayew’s older brother Ibrahim.
On his part, Andre is likewise a professional footballer who plies his trade at Swansea City at the time of writing.
The brothers are all close to each other and share equal love with their only Sister, Imani, who is a fashion model.
Jordan Ayew with his sister Imani and brother Andre.
About Jordan Ayew’s relatives:
Moving on to Jordan Ayew’s extended family life, little is known about his ancestry, particularly his maternal grandparents as well as paternal grandfather and grandmother.
He has an uncle identified as a former professional football player – Kwame Ayew, as well as a niece called Inaya Ayew.
There are no existing records of the striker’s aunts and cousins, while his nephew is yet to be identified at the time of writing this biography.
Jordan Ayew’s uncle Kwame.
Personal Life away from Football:
Personality traits that define Jordan Ayew are of Virgo zodiac signs – the same as Yoanne Wissa and Luca Koleosho. They include his proclivity for hard work, generosity and optimism.
In addition, he possesses a funny persona and hardly reveals details pertaining to his personal and private life.
Regarding Ayew’s interests and hobbies, he has quite a number of pastime activities that include listening to music, watching movies, travelling, sightseeing as well as spending time with his adorable family and friends.
Sightseeing is one of Jo’s interests and hobbies.
Jordan Ayew Lifestyle:
Do you know that Jordan Ayew has an estimated net worth of $12.3 million? at the time of writing this Bio?
Constituents of his rising wealth stem from the wages and salaries that he receives for playing top-flight football. An analysis of his spending pattern reveals that he lives a luxurious lifestyle.
Pointing indicators to Ayew’s luxurious lifestyle include varying shades of expensive cars, which he uses to navigate the streets of London and Ghana.
In addition, the striker has a little-known expensive house in Ghana as well as lives at a luxury apartment in London.
This is Jo, posing next to his Mercedes car.
Jordan Ayew Facts:
How well do you know Jordan Ayew beyond his childhood story? And what has been written about him in this bio? Sit back as We present a few lesser-known or untold facts about the striker.
Jordan Ayew Religion:
Andre’s big brother (Jordan) is a practising Muslim who is big on religion. Although the striker hardly goes religious during interviews. Jordan’s goal celebrations communicate his reverence for God and devotion to Islam.
Jordan Ayew is a practising Muslim.
Tattoos:
Jordan Ayew loves tattoos. And has the body art is inscribed on both of his left and right hands. The striker – who has a height of 6 feet, 0 inches – likely doesn’t have any other tattoos. Only those on his arms because he has not been caught topless.
Can you spot the tattoos on Jo’s left and right hands?
Fact Check:
Thanks for reading our Jordan Ayew Childhood Story, including his Untold Biography Facts. Aside from the story of Abedi Pele’s son, we’ve got other Ghanaian Footballers’ History for your reading pleasure.
The Biographies of Ajax’s Mohammed Kudus, Southampton’s Mohammed Salisu, Leicester City’s Abdul Fatawu and Real Betis’ Inaki Williams will interest you. If you find something that doesn’t look right, please share it with us. Share it by commenting below. We’ll always value and respect your ideas.
