Former Premier League star Christian Atsu has been confirmed dead after his body was pulled from the rubble after the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
Atsu, 31, who played 121 times for Newcastle and was on the books at Chelsea, remained unknown for several days after the earthquake.
Tens of thousands of people have died in the earthquake, which struck southern Turkey and northern Syria earlier this month.
Midfielder Atsu was playing for Hatayspor, a Turkish club in the city of Antakya, at the time of his death. Antakya was hit hard by the earthquake, and the building where Atsu had been living had collapsed.
Hopes had remained that he may have survived the quake because his body had yet to be found. Atsu’s family had gathered to wait outside his building while rescuers worked.
But his agent later said: “Atsu’s lifeless body was found under the rubble. Currently, more items are still being taken out. His phone was also found.”
Ghanaian internation Atsu had an excellent career, which he began at Porto in Portugal. His performances attracted the attention of Chelsea in 2013.
But he never played for the Blues over a four-year spell, instead making loan moves to Vitesse Arnhem in Belgium, Everton, Bournemouth, Malaga and Newcastle.
In 2017, he moved to Newcastle permanently, where he had his best spell with 121 appearances.
In 2021, he transferred again to Al-Raed in Saudi Arabia, before making his final move to Hatayspor last year.
By Kit Heren@yung_chuvak
