Ghana captain Jordan Ayew is expected to return to the Black Stars squad for this month’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, with the forward also closing in on a move to English Championship side Sheffield United.
Ayew, 34, is currently a free agent after leaving Leicester City following the club’s relegation from the Championship to League One.
He is, however, reportedly in talks with Sheffield United over a free transfer and is expected to be unveiled by the club on September 11, his 35th birthday.
The move would give Ayew a new club ahead of Ghana’s opening AFCON qualifiers and potentially end his brief spell without a team following his departure from Leicester.
Ayew made 42 Championship appearances for Leicester during the 2025-26 season, starting 24 matches and scoring six goals while providing three assists.
He joined Leicester in 2024 after leaving Crystal Palace and has spent more than a decade playing in English football, having also represented Aston Villa and Swansea City in the Premier League.
He began his European career with French club Marseille.
Ayew’s possible return to the Black Stars comes as head coach Carlos Queiroz begins a new mandate with the national team.
The Ghana Football Association confirmed on September 2 that it had reached an agreement with the Portuguese coach to continue as Black Stars head coach after he led the team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His new mandate begins with the upcoming international window.
The GFA has yet to officially announce the squad for the September qualifiers, but Ayew is expected to retain his place after captaining Ghana at the World Cup in North America.
Ghana will open their Group C campaign away to Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké on September 24, before hosting The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 29.
The Black Stars are in a group that also includes Somalia, with the top two teams qualifying for the 2027 AFCON finals in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Ghana missed the previous AFCON tournament in Morocco and will be seeking an immediate return to the continental competition.