According to his Turkish agent, Murat Uzun Mehmet, it has been confirmed that Christian Atsu has passed away.
The 31-year-old footballer was a player for Hatayspor, a Turkish team, and scored a stunning free-kick during their recent 1-0 victory over Kasimpasa in the Turkish Super Lig on February 5th. He had been planning to leave the country but had a change of heart after the win.
Tragically, Atsu’s whereabouts were unknown after a massive earthquake hit Turkey’s southeastern border on February 6th, claiming the lives of over 35,000 people.
Despite search and rescue operations, his club and agent confirmed that Atsu was missing. On February 12th, he was found under the rubble where he and Hatayspor’s sporting director, Taner Savut, had been living.
Atsu had a remarkable football career, starting with Porto in Portugal, which led to a move to Chelsea. He spent five years at Stamford Bridge before joining various other clubs on loan.
He ultimately made a permanent move to Newcastle in 2016 before transferring to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Raed and then joining Hatayspor in September 2022.
Atsu also had an impressive international career, representing Ghana at the 2014 World Cup and earning 65 caps and scoring nine goals.
Christian Atsu was a devout Christian, and he married Marie-Claire Rupio Atsu in 2012. They had three children together.
