Christian Atsu, a footballer for Ghana’s national team, has been declared dead by his agent after being discovered under his home’s wreckage in Turkey about two weeks after the earthquake.
The 31-year-old Ghanaian international has played for Everton, Chelsea, and Newcastle in the English Premier League.
Since the earthquake on February 6th, which destroyed his apartment in Antakya, Hatay, Atsu has not been seen.
“There are no words to describe our sadness,” his Turkish Premier League club Hatayspor tweeted.
Our memories of you, Atsu, will remain intact. “May God rest your lovely soul.
After the quake, Hatayspor said Atsu was rescued “with injuries,” but a day later, the team revised its statement.
His agent, Nana Sechere, who has been in Hatay, confirmed the news on Saturday via Twitter: “It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to announce to all well wishers that sadly Christian Atsu’s body was recovered this morning.
My heart goes out to his loved ones at this time. Please accept my sincere appreciation for your thoughts and prayers.
After spending a season with Al-Raed in Saudi Arabia, Atsu signed with Hatayspor in September 2022 and promptly won a Super Lig match for the club on 5 February with the game-winning goal.
After leading Ghana to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations final, where they lost on penalties to Ivory Coast, he was awarded 65 caps for his country. The tournament’s player of the year award went to Atsu.
Everton expressed “deep sadness” and Chelsea “devastation” at the news.
The death toll from the earthquake and its aftershocks in southern Turkey and northern Syria is estimated to be over 40 thousand.
Mimi Mefo Info
