Former Chelsea and Newcastle United striker Christian Atsu has been found dead after he went missing for days following the earthquakes in Turkey.
The Ghanaian footballer, who played for Hatayspor before his tragic death, was one of the stars of Chelsea’s academy before his trip to Turkey.
The 31-year-old man lived in an apartment in the city of Hatay, which was badly damaged during the earthquake.
His club, Hatayspor, initially reported that he had been rescued “with injuries”, but later changed position the following day.
His death was confirmed by his agent in Turkey, Murat Uzunmehmet.
“Christian Atsu was found and had unfortunately passed away,” he said through a brief statement on social media.
Atsu was staying in a building with a number of Hatayspor team-mates and officials. The club’s sporting director Taner Savut is also missing.
Atsu scored late in injury time to give Hatayspor a 1-0 win over Istanblul-based Kasimpaşa S.K. in the Turkish league on Feb. 5, earning him praise from his new club hours before the earthquake struck.
Some survivors are still being rescued after the quakes and aftershocks in southern Turkey and northern Syria that are known to have killed more than 40,000 people.
Atsu who previously played for English clubs Chelsea and Newcastle, signed for Hatayspor late last year. The club is based in Antakya, near the epicenter of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck in the early hours of Feb. 6, one of two major earthquakes, along with ensuing aftershocks that devastated southern Turkey and northern Syria.
