GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - JULY 18: Miguel Almiron of Newcastle United celebrates scoring with new team mate Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United during the pre-season friendly match between Rangers and Newcastle at Ibrox Stadium on July 18, 2023 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
Christian Atsu: A former Newcastle United footballer was discovered dead under debris in Turkey after being mistakenly recognized as alive in a hospital.
The 31-year-old ex-Chelsea and Newcastle winger was due to fly out of Turkey on the day of the earthquake, which has already killed over 45,000 people.
Former Newcastle United footballer Christian Atsu’s body was discovered under the debris of the building where he resided in Turkey, according to his agency.
The Ghanaian, who played for Hatayspor in Antakya, had been misidentified and wrongly reported as being hospitalized “with injuries” following the earthquake that killed over 40,000 people in Turkey and 5,800 in Syria last week.
“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,” Atsu’s agent, Nana Sechere, tweeted this morning. My heartfelt sympathies go out to his family and loved ones.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to everyone for their prayers and support.”
“I ask that everyone please respect the privacy of the family during this very difficult time while we make the necessary arrangements.”
Ghana’s foreign ministry acknowledged in a statement that the “unfortunate news” had been received and that “necessary arrangements with the assistance of the Government of Turkey” were being made to send the footballer’s remains to his native country.
Atsu played eight years in the Premier League, playing for clubs such as Chelsea, Bournemouth, Everton, and Newcastle.
Chelsea signed him in 2013 before loaning him out to Vitesse in the Netherlands.
During loan stints from Chelsea, the winger played for Everton, Bournemouth, and Newcastle. The 31-year-old made 121 Premier League matches during his career.
Atsu became a fan favorite in Tyneside, appearing in 107 games and scoring eight goals between 2016 and 2021.
In 2017, he signed a permanent contract with Newcastle from Chelsea for £6.2 million.
“He was a wonderful, wonderful person.” Always joyful, always smiling, always positive.”
Atsu had a successful international career, appearing in 65 games for Ghana and scoring nine goals.
He represented West Africa in the 2014 World Cup and was voted tournament player of the tournament at the 2015 African Cup of Nations, in which Ghana was a finalist.
Murat Uzunmehmet, his Turkey-based agent, informed reporters that the Atsu footballer was discovered beneath the rubble of his residence in southern Turkey.
Atsu’s wife, Marie-Claire Rupio Atsu, and their three children survive him. The footballer will now be flown back to his own country to be buried.
Atsu had agreed to join a new club in France and was set to depart Turkey only hours before the earthquake.
But he decided to stay after scoring a stoppage-time winner in Hatayspor’s Super Lig encounter against Kasimpasa the day before the earthquake.
Atsu went to Turkey in September, signing a one-year contract with Antakya.
Taner Savut, the sporting director of Hatayspor, who is still missing, was his roommate in the southern Turkish city.
“We will not forget you, Atsu,” the club tweeted. Peace be with you, lovely lady. There are no words to express our grief. “May you rest in peace.”
Atsu was also recognized for his charitable activities, notably with the anti-child trafficking organization Arms Around the Child, for which he served as a global ambassador.
He assisted in the construction of Becky’s Home, an orphanage in Ghana. According to Ellie Milner, executive director of Arms Around the Child, Atsu visited the center on a regular basis and met the children there.
