Premier League clubs had a heavy heart this Saturday, February 18. The Ghanaian Christian Atsu, former player of FC Porto, Chelsea, Everton or Newcastle, was found dead under the rubble of the building where he was staying in Antiochin the province of Hatay, two weeks following the earthquake that struck southern Turkey on February 6th.
« It is with a heavy heart that I must announce to everyone that the body of Christian Atsu was found this morning. “said Nana Sechere, his Ghanaian agent, on his Twitter account. ” The Ghana Embassy in Turkey, which conveyed the sad news, says the body was found early this morning “Explains in a press release the Ghanaian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Initially, the Ghanaian Embassy in Turkey and the Ghana Football Federation assured that the striker was found alive right following the earthquake. Information quickly denied in the following hours.
Tributes in Europe and the Premier League
The Ghanaian, revealed by FC Porto in 2011, then went through many clubs in the English championship between 2013 and 2021, such as Chelsea, Everton or Newcastle. He had recently been recruited by Turkish club Hatayspor last September.
Many tributes were paid to him by his former clubs in Europe, especially on the lawns of the Premier League, before the start of the matches of the 24e championship day.
« An ambassador of Ghanaian football »
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) also paid tribute to him, saying ” saddened by the tragic passing of the Ghanaian international ». « Ghanaian football has lost one of its finest elements and ambassadors who will be hard to replace. He will be sorely missed “Lamented for his part the Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo.
The Ghana national team, with which he played 65 games and reached the CAN 2015 final in Equatorial Guinea, has released a video of his greatest achievements in the Black Stars jersey. André Ayew, the current Ghana captain, also paid tribute to his former national team-mate.