The striker had burst onto the scene in France in 2001-02 with FC Metz, but he really impressed the following term when scoring 13 goals. It was that form, when still aged 17, which attracted the interest of Monaco.

He was part of the Monaco side that reached the 2004 Champions League final but, after two and a half seasons and 21 goals, Adebayor was on his way out - he was excluded from the team for repeatedly missing training following a difficult working relationship with coach Francesco Guidolin.

He moved to Arsenal in 2006 for a reported £7 million and, taking over the mantle of Thierry Henry, he reached the peak of his powers in his second season at Emirates Stadium. Named in the PFA Team of the Year, Adebayor netted 30 goals, but a summer of transfer talk appeared to unsettle him. Despite signing a long-term contract with the club in May 2007, Adebayor's head was turned by interest from AC Milan and Barcelona. Failing to get a move, he endured a difficult third season with the club and was criticised for his lack of effort by some Arsenal fans.

In July 2009, it emerged that Manchester City were keen on his signature and he signed for the club for a reported fee of around £25 million on July 18. His City career began well, but he suffered a dip in form amid the negative publicity that followed his behaviour in a 4-2 win over Arsenal. Adebayor was given a three-match ban for a stamp on Robin van Persie and a two-match suspended ban for his goal celebration, when he ran the length of the pitch to goad the Gunners' travelling fans.

In January, Adebayor was caught up in the Angola gun attack on the Togo team bus ahead of the 2010 African Nations Cup that left three dead. He admitted he was struggling to come to terms with the incident and subsequently announced his international retirement. Unable to cement his place at Manchester City in the months after, he joined Real Madrid on loan in January 2011.

Strengths: Strong, powerful and pacy, Adebayor is good in the air but even better with the ball at his feet.

Weaknesses: He is inconsistent and can drift out of games. His attitude and temperament has also been called into question.

Career high: Scoring 30 goals in all competitions for Arsenal in the 2007-08 season, with one of those efforts - against Tottenham - winning Match of the Day's goal of the season award.

Career low: The gun attack at the African Nations Cup left him traumatised.

Style: Tall, skilful all-round striker.

Quotes: "A lot of good players are coming in but I still want to be the No. 1 striker and that is what I am trying to do. They are bringing good players into this club and we have to put our spirits together to manage to win something." - Emmanuel Adebayor, July 2010

Trivia: Adebayor bought Cristiano Ronaldo's seven-bedroom mansion in Cheshire for £5.5 million when he made the move to Manchester.