Sheffield United forward Jordan Ayew has opened up about his experience being relegated from the Championship with Leicester City last season.
The Ghanaian spent two seasons with the Foxes, with both campaigns ending in relegation. Ayew left Leicester City at the end of last season; he stayed in the Championship, signing for Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United.
Their back-to-back relegation to League One came 10 years after they won the Premier League against the odds. The club likely learnt a lot from the experience, but Ayew has discussed the lessons he learnt from the experience and the toll it took on him on and off the field.
Jordan Ayew: “Now I enjoy wins much more”
Speaking to The Star, Ayew was honest about the impact losing so many games can have on a player:
“It was a year that was a difficult year for everyone, mentally, in terms of performances, because everything is in your head. You start to lose games, you start to lose in performances, then you start to lose in everything, confidence in your teammates.”
The 35-year-old went on to explain how the experience has changed him as a player and a person:
“It was a strange one, but it was a good experience for me. I learnt a lot about myself as well and about the character that I had. It made me become a better person and a better footballer I think.
“Now I enjoy wins much more. I enjoy success much more.”
Struggles at Leicester City
Despite enjoying a successful spell in England, Ayew’s time at Leicester City was one to forget. He joined from Crystal Palace towards the end of the summer window in 2024 but struggled to make an impact as the Foxes dropped out of the Premier League.
The Ghanaian scored five goals in 31 games in the 2024/25 campaign. He started just 19 times, averaging 55 minutes per game and receiving an average Sofascore rating of 6.67 in the process. Ayew missed four big chances that campaign, ending that campaign with 0.2 goals per game, 1.1 shots per game and 0.3 shots on target per game.
His time in the Championship for the Foxes wasn’t much better either. He scored six goals and picked up three assists in 42 games, 24 of which were from the start. Ayew did manage to reduce his big chances missed down to one, while slightly increasing his shots on target per game to 0.5.
Slow Start to Life at the Lane
Ayew has had a slow start to his time at Sheffield United. He’s started just three Championship games and has been a used sub in four others. It’s fair to say he hasn’t really caught the eye just yet, receiving an average Sofascore rating of just 6.44 in his seven games.
The forward did manage to get his first goal last weekend, though. He was on the scoresheet as the Blades lost 2-1 to Charlton Athletic. Ayew will likely hope that goal kickstarts his Sheffield United career.