Crystal Palace forward Jordan Ayew has emerged as the most fouled player in the Premier League since the 2022/23 season began.
Ayew, 31, is not known for flashy skills, speed, or dribbling past defenders, but he has gained recognition as the player who has drawn the most fouls in the top flight since August 2022.
Since joining Palace in 2018, only three players have won more fouls than Ayew’s impressive tally of 364: Maddison (377), Grealish (415), and another former Palace player, Wilfried Zaha (488), who now plays for Galatasaray.
In the current 2022/23 season, Ayew leads the league with the most fouls drawn, recording 105 fouls. Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimares follows closely with 96, while James Maddison of Tottenham and Jack Grealish of Manchester City have 90 and 93 fouls drawn, respectively.
Former teammate Wilfred Zaha has won 77 fouls, Ivan Toney of Brentford has 74, and West Ham United’s Jarrod Bowen, Bukayo Saka of Arsenal, and Aston Villa’s John McGinn have all drawn 72 fouls each.
In the ongoing 2023/24 season, Ayew is yet to score a goal but has contributed two assists in four games, earning him the Crystal Palace Player of the Month award for August. He played a key role in Ghana’s 2-1 victory over the Central African Republic on Thursday, September 7, securing Ghana’s qualification for the 2023 African Cup of Nations to be held in Ivory Coast next year.
