Ghana and Marseille winger Andre “Dede” Ayew has signed a new contract with the Ligue 1 club, extending his stay until 2015. The announcement was made on the French giants’ website following Ayew’s naming as the 2011 BBC African Footballer of the Year.
The 21-year-old attacking midfielder received the award on Friday and paraded it in front of Marseille fans at the club’s Stade Velodrome ground on Saturday.
“[Marseille] will depend on him in the years to come,” said the club’s coach Didier Deschamps. “It’s a very good thing that he’s extended his contract.”
Ayew, the son of former Marseille star Abedi Pele, is a graduate of the club’s academy and was also named Marseille’s player of the season for 2010-11.
He has been named in the Ghana squad for the Africa Cup of Nations in January and February. After loan spells at Lorient and Arles-Avignon, he broke into the Marseille first team last season and played 37 matches, scoring 11 goals.
He has followed that up by hitting 12 goals in 22 matches so far this season, occasionally lining up alongside his younger brother, Jordan Ayew.