Ghana skipper Andre Ayew has expressed his excitement over his transfer to Qatari champions Al Sadd.

Ayew joined the Qatari club as a free agent following his departure from Swansea City in June.

Having signed a two-year contract with an option to extend for another one year, he has been handed the No.24 jersey by the side who is coached by former Barcelona and Spain midfielder Xavi Hernandez.

The former Jack Army forward is delighted by the opportunity to play under Xavi Hernandez, who coaches the Stars League outfit.

“I am very happy and proud to be a member and player of Al Sadd Club with many titles,” Ayew said, as reported by his club’s official website.

“My goal is to win titles, make the fans happy, and strive hard and try to win the Asian Champions League.

“The coach of the team, Xavi, was a great player and played for a long time with the biggest and best clubs in the world in Barcelona, and he is now a coach for the best Gulf clubs after playing with the team for five years.

“I follow the Al Sadd team and watched the development that took place in the team’s performance in terms of exciting football. The position of the players and the good tactics in which the team plays, and I expect to learn a lot from him [Xavi] during my time with him.”

The former West Ham winger added that he was “proud” to follow the footsteps of his father and Olympique Marseille legend Abedi Pele, who is an ex player of the King of Hearts.

Both of the Ayews were present at Thursday’s contract signing and unveiling.

“Certainly there are wonderful memories that I got from my father during his time with Al-Sadd in the past,” said Andre.

“He told me a lot about Al-Sadd and Qatar, and he helped me make the right decision to play for Al-Sadd. Al Sadd are the reigning Qatari champions and are set to play in the Asian Champions League.

“I know [Algeria striker] Baghdad Bounedjah, who I played against in Africa, as well as Akram Afif, Hassan Al Haidos and Saad Al Dosari, I know them well with the Qatari national team, and the Spanish [midfielder] Santi Carzola during his playing in the English Premier League.

“I hope to be a great supporter of them in the upcoming events.”

The U20 World cup winner will be paid a whopping $220,000 monthly at Al Sadd.

Last season, Ayew made 46 league appearances for Swansea City who reached the Championship promotion play-off final where they lost to Brentford for a second consecutive season.

He netted 17 goals ending the season as the club’s top scorer, just as he did the season earlier.