Former Chelsea and Premier League star Christian Atsu has been confirmed dead after he was trapped in a rubble following a disastrous Turkish earthquake.
The news of his demise has been confirmed by his Turkish agent Uzun Mehmet and a renowned Turkish football correspondent Ekrem Konur.
It is indeed a terrible news for football fans all across the world as the 31-year-old Ghana international has finally been confirmed dead.
The news of his demise came at the backdrop of purported reports which maintained he was found alive and hospitalized with an injury to his foot.
The former Chelsea loanee to Newcastle United happened to be among the many casualties of a giantic Turkish earthquake that swept through Southeastern Turkey and some parts of Syria.
On February 5, the world awoke to a shocking news of a 7.7 magnitude earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria.
Viral footage of giant and towering skyscrappers cowering and crumbling under the earthquake swept the media.
Other critical infrastructures were also leveled. Human casualties buried under tight crevices of the wreckage were increasing.
Turkish emergency response teams swung into action, embarking on rescue operations to rescue trapped victims. As the rescue operations continued, another deadly earthquake of a higher magnitude occured. The death tolls and casualties skyrocketed as rescue teams intensify operations.
Christian Atsu happens to be among the unfortunate victims who were trapped by the disastrous earthquake, including some of his teammates and a staff.
As rescue operations continued, it was confirmed that three of Christian Atsu’s Hatayspor teammates have been rescued, including a staff.
However, Christian Atsu was still confirmed missing. After days into the search and rescue operations, reports emerged Christian Atsu has been found alive.
The report was later denied by Hatayspor, including Atsu’s Turkish agent who said his client is yet to be found and is still missing in the Turkish earthquake.
According to reports, Christian Atsu was on the 9th floor of a giant building which was brought to rubble by the earthquake. Other football stars and teams in Turkey were also buried in the earthquake, with some confirmed dead.
A top Turkish goalkeeper was among those who were confirmed dead after the earthquake. Marasspor players, who also happened to be in one of the buildings crushed by the earthquake, were also buried in the rubble.
Christian Atsu was also confirmed missing but nothing could actually be concluded on his state of health following the contradictory reports that emerged.
Reports he was found alive but the report was later debunked by his Mehmet agent, who is his closest pal.
Now, Mehmet and a top football journalist based in Turkey Ekrem Konur have confirm the death of Christian Atsu.
Christian Atsu died at the age of 31. He joined Premier League side Chelsea in 2013 but did not make an appearance for club.
The Blues sent the former Ghana international on loan spells to Vitesse, Bournemouth, including Newcastle where the loan move was made permanent.
He made 75 appearances for the Magpies before joining Al-Raed in 2021. In 2022, Christian Atsu joined Hatayspor in Turkey, and scored his first goal for the club hours before the earthquake struck.
He won 65 caps with Ghana national team before calling time on his international career in 2019.
