Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan has left Sunderland to join the United Arab Emirates side Al Ain on a shock one-year loan deal, GHANAsoccernet.com can reveal in a world exclusive.Â
The 25-year-old sealed the deal early on Saturday morning after negotiations between the two clubs entered into the early hours of the morning.
Gyan is travelling to the UAE on Saturday afternoon before he is unveiled before fans of the club, the striker said in his first interview with any media outfit in the world since sealing the deal.
"I have signed a one-year loan deal with Al Ain club in the United Arab Emirates," Gyan told GHANAsoccernet.com immediately after signed the deal.
"I will continue to wear my favourite No.3 jersey at Al Ain as I begin a new adventure but with Sunderland still engrained on my heart."
The Ghana hitman has been linked with several top clubs in Europe since the start of the season but he has maintained his commitment to Sunderland.
Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Tottenham, Arsenal, Marseille as well as Turkish giants Galatasaray were all linked with the player in the off-season.
With the transfer deadline in Europe and Turkey passing it was thought Gyan would stay with the Black Cats at least until the end of the season.
But Al Ain powered in with a mouth watering deal which Sunderland could hardly resist which forced the player to move.
Sunderland feared the five weeks absence of their key striker during the Africa Cup of Nations which could affect their chances this season.
This is believed to be the main reason why they loaned out Gyan to allow other attackers in the team to flourish.