Christian Atsu, a 31-year-old Ghanaian footballer who had played for Premier League clubs Everton, Chelsea, and Newcastle, has been found dead under the rubble of his apartment almost two weeks after the Turkey earthquake.
Atsu has been missing since 6 February when the earthquake struck and caused the collapse of his apartment in Antakya, Hatay. Hatayspor, Atsu’s Turkish top-flight club, expressed their grief, stating that “there are no words to describe our sadness” and “peace be upon you, beautiful person.” Initially, the club reported that Atsu had been rescued “with injuries” after the earthquake, but this position later changed.
Atsu’s agent, Nana Sechere, confirmed his death on Twitter, expressing his condolences to Atsu’s family and loved ones. Atsu had joined Hatayspor in September 2022 and scored the winning goal in a Super Lig match on 5 February. He had won 65 caps for Ghana and helped his country reach the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations final, where they lost to Ivory Coast on penalties. Atsu was later named player of the tournament. The earthquake and aftershocks in southern Turkey and northern Syria are known to have killed more than 40,000 people. Atsu’s death has been deeply mourned by his former clubs, teammates, staff, and supporters, who remembered him as a talented player and a special person.