2019 was the year when Jordan Ayew finally established himself as the undoubted darling boy of Ghana football.
The 28-year-old started the year on a slow note but punched above his weight in the months that followed to become one of Ghana’s best performers in Europe.
For a player who has often been criticized for his lack of maturity, Jordan finally won over most of his doubters.
Not only did he cut out the unproductive excesses, he also crucially added goals to his game.
As we draw the curtains down on the year, Pulse Sports chronicles the top five Jordan Ayew moments of 2019:
1. Becoming a regular at club level
Jordan Ayew started 2019 as a player on loan at Crystal Palace from Swansea City. However, he will end the year as a player on a permanent deal at Selhurst Park.
Some 12 months ago, the Ghanaian was struggling to nail down a place in the Crystal Palace team after often being left on the bench.
However, he has risen to become a key player for the club since being snapped up permanently from Swansea in the summer.
Jordan has managed to dislodge Christian Benteke to become Crystal Palace’s first-choice striker, and has so far rewarded manager Roy Hodgson with four goals this season. Becoming a regular in the Premier League surely counts among his top moments.
2. Scoring against Man United and Arsenal
Scoring against a big clubs in the Premier League will always be something special for any footballer.
It is even more special when that goal comes against clubs like Manchester United and Arsenal. For Jordan Ayew, it was a dream come through to score at both Old Trafford and Emirates.
When Crystal Palace visited the Theatre of Dreams in August, Man United were unbeaten but Jordan made sure that invincibility was broken.
The Ghanaian beautifully beat the offside trap to pick up a pass from compatriot Jeffrey Schlupp, before calmly slotting past the onrushing David de Gea.
Against Arsenal, he netted the crucial equalizer as the Eagles drew 2-2 against the Gunners. Those two goals rank among Jordan’s special moments in 2019.
3. Ghana’s top scorer at AFCON 2019
Ghana’s campaign at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) didn’t go according to plan, following the Black Stars’ early exit.
Despite Ghana’s disappointing outing in Egypt, Jordan Ayew was undoubtedly the country’s standout player.
In a tournament where most of the players flopped, the 28-year-old stood out and drove the team on.
He scored Ghana’s first goal at the tournament against Benin, before netting another in the win against Guinea-Bissau which ensured the Black Stars’ qualification to the round of 16.
Jordan ended the tournament as Ghana’s top scorer, scoring two goals in four games, while also finally proving to Ghanaians that he can be the team’s main man.
4. Wining Crystal Palace Player of the Month for August
For all the praise that Jordan Ayew has received this season, winning the top awards at his club was the ultimate validation.
The striker was voted Crystal Palace Player of the Month for August after a sharp start to the Premier League season.
Jordan netted two times in three games in the month, scoring in wins over Manchester United and his former club Aston Villa.
Interestingly, the Ghanaian was also voted Man of the Match in all the three games that Crystal Palace played in August 2019. Such a wonderful period for Jordan.
5. Wining Crystal Palace Player of the Month for October
Just like in August, Jordan Ayew again found the net twice in the Premier League in the month of October.
The 28-year-old forward subsequently picked up his second Crystal Palace Player of the Month award after garnering 34% votes from fans.
He beat off competition from fellow nominees Gary Cahill (21%) and James McArthur (16%) to scoop the award.
Jordan scored the winner against West Ham United in October, before following it up with a crucial equalizer as the Eagles drew 2-2 with Unai Emery’s Arsenal at the Emirates. It’s been a season of goals for the striker.
