Ghanaian Christian Atsu dies in Turkey earthquake

Christian Atsu during CAN 2019 in Egypt.

AFP - OZAN KOSE

Text by: Farid Achache Follow

3 mins

Ghanaian Christian Atsu is among the many victims who died in the earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria.

He was found dead on February 18, 2023. 

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Former Chelsea and Newcastle winger

(31), now at Hatayspor in Turkey, was among those missing after the violent earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria.

He was found dead under the rubble on February 18 under the rubble of his building in Hatay in southern Turkey, announced his agent quoted by the Turkish private agency DHA.

“ 

,” said his agent Murat Uzunmehmet.

According to Turkish media, he was under the rubble of the Rönesans residence, a 12-storey tower that collapsed in the earthquake.

The Ghanaian Embassy in Turkey and the Ghana Football Association initially claimed that the striker had been found alive, but this information was later proven to be false.

The developer of the luxury residence turned into a ruin, where 800 people are believed to be buried, was arrested last week as he tried to leave Turkey.

His only goal in Turkey 

A few hours before the tragedy, Sunday February 5, the Ghanaian international had scored the winning goal in the Süper Lig against Kasimpasa on a free kick scored at the last minute (1-0).

Christian Atsu, who signed his first professional contract with FC Porto in 2011, has spent a good part of his career in the Premier League.

He joined Chelsea in 2013, coached at the time by José Mourinho, before being loaned to numerous clubs including Everton, Bournemouth and Newcastle.

Loaned five times in four years, he left Chelsea without having worn the Blues first team jersey.

Before Turkey, Christian Atsu had signed up for Al Raed in Saudi Arabia for two years, his first experience outside Europe since the start of his professional career.

He arrived free at Hatayspor in September 2022. In Turkey, he will have played only four games in all competitions, for barely 80 minutes of play. His goal against Kasimpasa will remain the only one on Turkish soil.

In the national team, Atsu, born in Ada, honored his first cape in 2012. The following year, he participated in his first African Cup of Nations in South Africa where Ghana was eliminated in the semi-finals by Burkina Faso.

During the CAN 2015 in Equatorial Guinea, Atsu was voted best player of the tournament and was also rewarded with the Trophy for the most beautiful goal of the competition.

Ghana, which reached the final against Côte d'Ivoire, lost the title after the penalty shootout.

Without necessarily shining, he also participated in the CAN 2017 and 2019. However, he was not in the group at the beginning of 2022 for the CAN in Cameroon.

Christian Atsu was also not part of the Ghana squad which took part in their fourth World Cup in Qatar at the end of 2022. With the Black Stars

Atsu had played 60 games and scored 10 goals. 

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