Emmanuel Seyi Adebayor – Biography
Full Name: Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor
Date of Birth: February 26, 1984
Place of Birth: Lomé, Togo
Nationality: Togolese
Height: 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position: Striker
Early Life & Background
Emmanuel Adebayor was born in Lomé, Togo, to parents of Nigerian Yoruba descent. He grew up in Togo and showed early football talent, playing in local youth teams before moving to France.
Club Career
1. Early Career (1999–2003) – Metz (France)
- Moved to France to join Metz’s youth academy.
- Made his senior debut in 2001.
- Scored 15 goals in 44 appearances.
2. AS Monaco (2003–2006)
- Transferred to AS Monaco in 2003.
- Helped Monaco reach the 2004 UEFA Champions League final.
- Scored 18 goals in 78 appearances.
3. Arsenal (2006–2009)
- Signed by Arsène Wenger for £3 million.
- Scored 46 Premier League goals for Arsenal.
- Won PFA Team of the Year (2007–08) after scoring 24 goals in a season.
4. Manchester City (2009–2012)
- Moved to Manchester City for £25 million.
- Scored a famous goal against Arsenal (2009) and celebrated controversially in front of their fans.
- Loaned to Real Madrid (2011), winning the Copa del Rey.
5. Tottenham Hotspur (2011–2015)
- Joined Spurs on loan in 2011, then permanently in 2012.
- Scored 35 goals in 92 matches.
6. Later Career
- Played for Crystal Palace (2016).
- Played in Turkey for Başakşehir (2017–2019) and Kayserispor (2019–2020).
- Ended his career at Semassi (2021–2023) in Togo.
International Career (2000–2019)
- Represented Togo in 87 matches, scoring 32 goals.
- Led Togo to their first-ever FIFA World Cup (2006).
- Won the CAF African Footballer of the Year (2008).
- Survived the 2010 Togo bus attack in Angola.
Personal Life & Philanthropy
- Founded the SEA Foundation, which supports underprivileged children in Togo.
- Known for his strong personality and controversial moments.
- Retired officially in March 2023.
Legacy
- One of Africa’s greatest strikers.
- Holds records for Togo’s top scorer and most-capped player.
- Played for top clubs like Arsenal, Man City, Real Madrid, and Tottenham.
