Gyan leaves Sunderland for Abu Dhabi loan

Sep 10, 2011, 12:43 GMT

London - Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan joined Abu Dhabi club Al-Ain on a season-long loan on Saturday.

The Ghana international joined Steve Bruce's side for 13 million pounds (20.6 million dollars) a year ago, but he has seemed unsettled since March, when he was superb for Ghana in a friendly against England.

Bruce spoke on Friday of the 'parasites' who had turned his head with suggestions he should have been earning higher wages elsewhere.

A move to Fenerbahce had been mooted, but when the Turkish transfer window closed it seemed he would stay at Sunderland.

Al-Ain are understood to have had a 5 million pound offer to buy the player rejected a matter of hours before the loan was concluded.

'This option suits all parties at the present time and the club is well protected in the deal,' said Bruce.

'Asamoah has three years remaining on his contract and of course my wish would be that he finds his spark again and we see him next season.'

Sunderland are left with few options in attack, with just the on-loan Nicklas Bendtner, the young South Korea Ji Dong-Won and the 18-year-old Connor Wickham.

'I'll continue to wear my favourite 3 jersey at Al-Ain as I begin a new adventure but with Sunderland still ingrained in my heart,' said Gyan.