Former Aston Villa striker Jordan Ayew has earned an unfortunate distinction after being relegated for the sixth time in his career. The 34-year-old forward, who spent 18 months at Villa Park, saw his latest relegation confirmed as Leicester City dropped to League One following a disastrous campaign and a points deduction.
Ayew's Time at Aston Villa
Ayew joined Aston Villa from French club Lorient in 2015 for a reported fee of £8 million. He finished as the club's joint top scorer with seven goals during the 2015-16 season, but his efforts could not prevent Villa from being relegated to the Championship. After the drop, Ayew remained with Villa but scored only three times in the Championship before moving to Swansea City midway through the season.
Career Relegations
Ayew's relegation history began during his time in France. While on loan from Marseille to Sochaux, the club was relegated. The following season, he suffered another relegation with Lorient. After moving to Aston Villa, he experienced a third consecutive relegation, marking three straight seasons of dropping down a division.
Ayew had a brief respite from relegation at Swansea City, but the club was relegated from the Premier League in the 2017-18 season, adding a fourth relegation to his tally. He then spent six seasons at Crystal Palace without being relegated before joining Leicester City in 2024. At Leicester, he scored 12 goals in 79 appearances, but the club's poor form and a points deduction led to back-to-back relegations, making it six in total for Ayew.
What's Next for Ayew?
Ayew is out of contract at Leicester City this summer and will be looking for a new club. However, his record of six relegations may make some clubs hesitant to sign him, viewing him as an unlucky charm. Despite this, Ayew's experience and goal-scoring ability could still attract interest from clubs in the Championship or lower leagues.
