Ayew brothers clubless after contract expiry

Two of Ghana football’s most recognisable names, brothers Andre and Jordan Ayew, are both without clubs after their respective contracts expired on June 30, leaving the siblings as free agents at the same time for the first time in their careers.

Jordan, 34, saw his deal with Leicester City come to an end following the conclusion of the 2025/26 season. The forward had just captained the Black Stars through the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, featuring in all four of Ghana’s matches before their campaign ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia in the Round of 32, with Jhon Arias’ first-half goal proving the difference.

His performances during the tournament divided opinion sharply. Former Tema East Member of Parliament Nii Kwartei Titus Glover was among the most vocal critics, insisting on Channel TV that Jordan had “outlived his stay” with the national team.

“Jordan Ayew has outlived his stay, and he can only play 20 to 25 minutes. He holds onto the ball too much, and he is so slow. As a striker, you don’t hold onto the ball too much. With air balls and ground balls, you should be quick.”

Glover said, adding that the forward should have been restricted to a bit-part role during the tournament, saying, “Jordan Ayew was a disaster, and he should have played a maximum of 20 minutes and allowed the young players to feature.”

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Andre’s situation is equally uncertain. The elder of the two footballing brothers, at 36, finished the season with Dutch Eredivisie side NAC Breda after signing a short-term deal, but that contract has now lapsed.

He was left out of Ghana’s World Cup squad entirely by Carlos Queiroz, who felt the veteran striker had lost his trademark explosive pace following a difficult club campaign and opted instead for younger attacking options.

Andre had captained Ghana at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and his absence from the 2026 tournament effectively marked the end of a distinguished international career that spanned over a decade and a half of service to the Black Stars.

Jordan and Andre are sons of one of Africa’s greatest ever players, Abedi Pele, and between them have carved out notable careers across Europe.

Jordan has had stints at Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Newcastle United and Leicester City, among others, while Andre represented clubs including Marseille, Swansea City, West Ham United and Al Sadd before his spell in the Netherlands.