My body is good – Andre Ayew dismisses retirement talk

Ghana forward Andre Ayew has firmly dismissed speculation about an imminent retirement, insisting he remains physically strong and fully committed to continuing his career at the highest level.

The 36-year-old, who recently signed for Dutch Eredivisie side NAC Breda, addressed growing conjecture about his future in an interview with ESPN, making it clear that stepping away from the game has not crossed his mind.

"I never thought about it because my body is good. I feel good," Ayew stated.

The veteran attacker, whose illustrious career has taken him through France's Ligue 1, the English Premier League, and the Turkish Süper Lig, emphasized that he relies on his body to tell him when the time is right.

"I've played a lot, a lot of years, and I thought, you know, I've been fit for several years and been able to play games upon games upon games."

"I live my life day to day, so I prepare myself every time to have a better tomorrow on the field, off the field."

"I think when the moment comes, your body will tell you. That's how I see it, and for now, my body is not responding negatively at all."

"So I need to continue working. The matches will get me fitter. They will make me feel better, and that's all I'm thinking about."

Ayew also addressed concerns over a six-month spell without competitive football, clarifying that the absence was due to personal matters rather than a lack of professional opportunities.

"I never thought about stopping because the six months I didn't play was not football reasons. It was personal reasons that I had to deal with and so forth," he explained.

"I could clear my mind and come back and be on top of my game mentally, physically—I was working. So I'm quite happy, and this is the start of something new, and I hope we end it well."

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, Ayew's performances and playing time at NAC Breda will be closely monitored as he pushes for inclusion in Ghana's squad for the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

For now, the veteran forward's message is clear: retirement is not on the agenda.