Jonathan Ayité

Early career

Born and raised in Bordeaux, Ayité developed in the ranks of CFA2 side Stade Bordelais until the age of 21, at which point he joined Bordeaux's reserve team for a season, though the club opted against offering him a contract, and in the summer of 2007 he left to join Stade Brestois in Ligue 2.

First spell at Brest

In his first season in Ligue 2, Ayité scored 6 times in 26 appearances. Following an underwhelming start to the following season, he soon found himself benched, and consequently ended up joining fellow Ligue 2 side Nîmes Olympique in the winter transfer window.

Nîmes

Ayité helped his new club turn their fortunes around to stay in Ligue 2, scoring 4 goals in 18 appearances, which resulted in Nîmes offering him a three-year contract at the end of the season. The following season, his 16 goals in all competitions made him the club's top scorer, and he formed a successful strike partnership with Jean-Jacques Mandrichi. At the age of 24, he was quite a late bloomer, but nevertheless drew attention from larger sides, which would continue into the following season.

Return to Brest

On the final day of the 2010-11 season's winter transfer window, Ayité rejoined his former club Brest, now in Ligue 1, two years after his departure from the side, joining as a replacement for the injured Nolan Roux. On his Ligue 1 debut, he scored against AS Nancy Lorraine, and ultimately made 14 appearances during his first half-season in…

Ayité's first call-up to the Togo national team came in June 2007, when he was included in Togo's squad for 2008 African Cup of Nations qualification, alongside Emmanuel Adebayor and his own brother, Floyd. In January 2010, as Togo were travelling to Angola to compete in the 2010 African Cup of Nations, Ayité and his teammates were victims of a terrorist attack, which prompted their withdrawal from the tournament. He participated in Togo's unsuccessful 2012 African Cup of Nations qualification campaign, as well as their successful campaign to qualify for the 2013 African Cup of Nations, at which he played 3 matches as Togo reached the quarter-finals for the first time. Ayité continued to represent the Togolese national side until March 2016, and he officially retired from international football in October 2016.

Ayité's younger brother, Floyd, is also an international footballer who plays for Togo.