Report: Ghana forward Christian Atsu trapped under rubble after earthquake in Turkey

Christian Atsu played for ten clubs in his career

Report: Ghana forward Christian Atsu trapped under rubble after earthquake in Turkey

Ayoola Kelechi 14:00 - 06.02.2023

The former Chelsea and Newcastle star is believed to be under the rubble of his home in Turkey

Several reports claim that former Chelsea and Newcastle midfielder Christian Atsu is trapped under wreckage caused by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked Turkey in today's early hours. 

Atsu believed to be stuck under rubble with sporting director

The former Ghana international, who currently plays with Turkish club Hatayspor, was at home when the earthquake struck, and rescue efforts are underway to get him out from under the rubble. 

Atsu is one of many people trapped in the aftermath of the as is Hatayspor’s sporting director Taner Savut, who helped bring Atsu to the club in the summer. 

The two earthquakes in Turkey has already claimed more than 1,000 lives

Atsu was not the only Hatayspor player caught in the earthquake, but he is the only one currently still missing as his other team members have been accounted for, including some who were rescued from their own houses. 

Atsu finally making progress at Hatayspor

The news comes barely 24 hours after Atsu scored a 97th-minute winner for Hatayspor in the Turkish Super Lig against Kasimpasa and has understandably left fans devastated. 

Atsu has had a difficult time since joining the Turkish club in the summer of 2022, and has made only three appearances in the league for Hatayspor after nursing an injury for most of his time in Turkey, but his late winner gives up that he could still make a success of his time with the side currently battling relegation. 

Atsu represented Ghana 65 times including at the 2014 FIFA World Cup

Prior to playing in Turkey, Atsu played for Chelsea, Newcastle, and Everton in the Premier League, as well as Porto in Portugal and Malaga in Spain. He also played for the Ghanaian national team 65 times, scoring nine goals and winning a silver medal at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations

Search efforts continue for Atsu, Savut and others after a second earthquake, 7.5 in magnitude hit Turkey after the initial one.

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