Christian Atsu

Christian Atsu hails from Ada Foah in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. He was born on 10th January, 1990. Atsu began honing his skills at the Feyenoord Football Academy, which is now known as the West African Football Academy, located in Gomoah Fetteh, Sogakope, in the Volta Region of Ghana.

At the age of 17, Atsu caught the attention of Patrick Greveraars, a manager at Porto. He was scouted and joined the club, earning a call-up from first-team manager André Villas-Boas for a Primeira Liga match against Marítimo on May 14, 2011, although he did not get a chance to play.

Atsu was subsequently loaned to Rio Ave for the 2011-12 season. He made his debut for Rio Ave against Olhanense on August 28, 2011, and showcased his talent with a goal against Benfica in December of the same year.

After his loan spell, Atsu returned to Porto, where he played a pivotal role in their third consecutive national championship victory.

In September 2013, Atsu signed a five-year contract with Chelsea for a reported £3.5 million. He was immediately loaned to Vitesse Arnhem in the Dutch league for the 2013-14 season. Atsu made a notable impact, featuring in 30 games and scoring five goals. His loan spell helped Vitesse secure a sixth-place finish and a spot in the playoffs.

In August 2014, Atsu joined Premier League side Everton on loan until the end of the 2014-15 season. He made his debut against Arsenal and went on to contribute to the team's performances. Despite his promising displays, Atsu's loan was cut short, and he was subsequently loaned to Bournemouth. However, he had limited opportunities at Bournemouth and was recalled by Chelsea in January 2016.

Following his recall, Atsu briefly considered a move to Levante but ultimately joined Málaga on loan. He made an impressive debut, scoring in a 3-0 victory over Getafe CF.

Atsu made his debut for the Ghana national team on June 1, 2012, against Lesotho, where he also scored. He represented Ghana in the Africa Cup of Nations, the FIFA World Cup, and other international tournaments. Atsu's standout performances earned him recognition as an excellent prospect and potential future star for his national team. He was awarded the Player of the Tournament and Goal of the Tournament honors in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

In 2019, Atsu signed a three-year contract with Hatayspor, a Turkish club. Sadly, he lost his life in early February 2023, along with tens of thousands of people, when an earthquake struck Turkey and Syria. On February 19, 2023, his body was transported from Istanbul, Turkey to Accra, Ghana, for his burial. In a revealing interview, Demirel shared that Atsu had originally planned to leave Ghana after his match on February 5, 2023, but decided to stay due to his match-winning goal.

The news of Atsu's passing deeply affected the entire football community. Tributes poured in from fellow footballers and clubs following his untimely demise. Mohammed Kudus, the former Ghana captain, honored Atsu by revealing a t-shirt with "RIP Atsu" written on it after scoring a free-kick goal. Newcastle United paid their respects by observing a one-minute silence before their match. Ghana's vice president, Mahamudu Bawmia, expressed the tragic nature of Atsu's death and described it as a significant loss for Ghana.