Andre Ayew
New signing Andre Ayew says it was an “easy decision” to opt to join Nottingham Forest amid offers from elsewhere. The free agent was wanted by the Reds’ Premier League rivals Everton, among others, but he chose to pen a short-term deal at the City Ground last week. Linking up again with head coach Steve Cooper, who he worked with at Swansea City, was a big lure, and having recently left Qatari side Al Sadd, he was eager to return to English football’s top-flight. Ayew has played at this level before, with the Swans and with West Ham United. He says it was always his dream to get back to this stage.
Andre Ayew said: “No comment on clubs. There were a few, whether in England or outside, I don’t like to say names. There were other offers around, but it was easy for me to choose to come here. To be back in the Premier League, it’s a great feeling. But there’s so much work to be done, you can’t get carried away. I’m happy to be back in the Premier League at an historic club and ready to do a job for the team, to get us to where we all want to be, which is Premier League status for next season.”
Winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Ghana, having collected two runners-up medals, is a goal. But the forward is also determined to show he can still cut it in the Premier League with Forest.
Andre Ayew said: “Here, it is coming back to a league that I feel is the best in the world and feeling like you have what it takes to be here. Being in the national team, playing in the World Cup, having good games, that feeling. When the opportunity came, I felt it was time to come back.”
Asked if he thought that chance might have gone before Forest came calling,
Andre Ayew added: “No. I always wanted to come back. There is what you want and what you get, but it was still my dream. As long as you keep doing your job, the opportunities always occur at some point. When all these opportunities came at the end of January, on the last day, I was very pleased with myself. It showed I’m doing a great job, whether in Qatar or with the national team or wherever. Honestly, it meant a lot to me to have all of these opportunities around. It showed me there is a lot to be done still. It gave me a boost coming here, where I can add something to the squad. At the end of the day, it’s not about Andre or about Joe (Worrall) the captain, or (Ryan) Yates or Brennan (Johnson) it’s about the team and how we’re going to make sure the club stays in the Premier League.”
