The son of the legendary Abedi Ayew Pele was named the best African player in the French league, beating off some stiff competition from some fellow Africans.
Dede, scorer of 10 goals in 27 games for Olympique de Marseille this season, fended off Saint Ettiene’s Ivorian midfielder Max Gradel and Tunisia’s Aymen Abdennour, who plies his trade for Monaco.
The award in question is the Marc Vivien Foe award, given to the best African player in Europe’s most multi racial league and in honour of the former Cameroonian midfielder.
Dede Ayew has been with the French club, where his legendary father also made his name, for the past ten years, and has become a main protagonist the past few seasons. That romance is set to end at the end of this season, with Ayew not planning to renew his contract.
He told the BBC:
“I’m going to leave the club and it is a page turned
There are a lot of things behind the decision. We tried to find a solution which would enable me to stay but for both parties it was complicated, whether it be for sporting or financial reasons.
I was expecting more, I hoped the club would have a more competitive team for next year that could be title contenders and that’s not certain.
Also the club cannot offer me the same salary that I’m on at the moment.”
Ayew, a lock for future Black Stars captain, would certainly have no shortage of suitors. He said in the past he would love to play for Liverpool, and other premier league sides as well as both Milan giants have all been linked to him in previous seasons.