The 39-year-old began his career in Lomé-based AC Merlan in his home country but moved to Europe as a 15-year-old to become a youth professional in Metz, France. The big break came at the next French club, Monaco, before he was signed by England’s Arsenal in 2006.
After that there were trips to Manchester City, Real Madrid, Tottenham and Crystal Palace. After a few years in first the Turkish and then the Paraguayan league, Adebayor then returned home to Togo in 2021. His last professional club was AC Semmasi.
In total, he scored 207 goals in 593 games in different club teams.
He is also Togo’s all-time top goalscorer with 26 goals in 64 caps and has been named the country’s best player five times. In 2008, he was also named African Player of the Year.