Togolese · Lomé, Togo · Born 26 February 1984Tall and technically gifted Togolese striker who scored over 200 career goals across Europe's top leagues, most memorably at Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City.
Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor was born on 26 February 1984 in Lomé, Togo, and was spotted playing for Sporting Club de Lomé by scouts from France's Metz, who brought him to Europe in 1999. He made his Ligue 1 debut in 2001, and after Metz's relegation, his 13 goals in the second division prompted a move to Monaco in 2003, where his physical power and pace as a striker began to draw wider attention. Adebayor helped Monaco reach the 2004 Champions League final before Arsenal signed him in 2006, and he developed into one of the Premier League's most feared forwards, forming a potent strike partnership and finishing as the division's joint-top scorer during Arsenal's push for the title in 2007-08. A controversial move to Manchester City in 2009 saw him score against his former club and celebrate provocatively in front of Arsenal's travelling fans, one of the most talked-about moments of that Premier League season. Adebayor went on to play for Real Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur, and Basel, among other clubs, continuing a well-travelled career defined by spells of genuine brilliance alongside periods of inconsistency and off-field distraction. Adebayor is Togo's all-time leading goalscorer with 32 international goals, and helped the country qualify for its first-ever World Cup in 2006. In 2013, he returned to the national team for the Africa Cup of Nations, helping Togo reach the quarter-finals, cementing his status as the most important player in the country's football history.
Leading Togo's attack and scoring crucial goals in the Premier League
After scoring against Arsenal for Manchester City, he ran the full length of the pitch to slide on his knees in front of the Arsenal fans — one of the most infamous goal celebrations in Premier League history.
Did You Know?How They Played
Tall, physical striker with excellent aerial ability and clinical finishing
Lasting Impact
Togo's greatest ever footballer and one of Africa's most prolific strikers
Career Honours
- La Liga 2010 (Real Madrid, loan)
- African Cup of Nations 2013 (runner-up)
- League Cup 2008
| Club | Period | Fee | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metz | 2001–2003 | — | 44 | 15 |
| Monaco | 2003–2006 | £7m | 78 | 18 |
| Arsenal | 2006–2009 | £7m | 104 | 46 |
| Manchester City | 2009–2012 | £25m | 34 | 15 |
| Real Madrid | 2011–2011 | loan | 14 | 5 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2011–2012 | loan | 33 | 17 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2012–2015 | — | 59 | 18 |
| Crystal Palace | 2016–2016 | — | 12 | 1 |
| İstanbul Başakşehir | 2017–2019 | — | 60 | 24 |
| Kayserispor | 2019–2019 | — | 8 | 2 |
| Olimpia | 2020–2020 | — | 2 | 0 |
| Semassi | 2021–2023 | — | — | — |
 Togo | — | — | 87 | 32 |
Togolese Athletes