It has been confirmed that Christian Atsu, who was missing since the 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6, is found dead.
The earthquake catastrophe has resulted in the deaths of over 42,000 individuals, with thousands more sustaining injuries, and millions left without homes. Over the past week, it was revealed by Christian Atsu’s club Hatayspor and agent Nana Sechere that the hopes of the former Chelsea, Newcastle, Bournemouth, and Everton winger being rescued were false. Another agent of Atsu, Murat Uzunmehmet, confirmed that 12 days after the earthquake, Christian Atsu was found dead under the debris. Uzunmehmet informed the media that Atsu’s lifeless body was discovered along with his phone, and the search and rescue operations are ongoing to extract further items from the rubble.
FILE PHOTO: Civil defense workers and security forces searching through the wreckage of collapsed buildings in Hama, Syria, Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki) After breaking through with Portuguese giants Porto, Atsu, who was 31 years old, had an impressive football career. His successful stints in Portugal, including a loan spell at Rio Ave, caught the attention of Chelsea, who signed him. Although he spent five years at Stamford Bridge, he was unable to make an appearance for the first team. Instead, he had temporary spells with Vitesse Arnhem, Everton, Bournemouth, Malaga, and Newcastle before signing with the latter club in 2016. Under Rafa Benitez, Atsu helped Newcastle earn promotion to the Premier League in the 2016-17 season and went on to make a total of 121 appearances for the club during his five years there.
