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Christian Atsu

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Christian Atsu
Atsu with Ghana in 2015
Personal information
Full name Christian Atsu Twasam[1]
Date of birth (1992-01-10)10 January 1992
Place of birth Ada Foah, Ghana
Date of death c. 6 February 2023(2023-02-06) (aged 31)
Place of death Antakya, Turkey
Height 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)[2]
Position(s) Winger
Youth career
Feyenoord Fetteh
Cheetah
2009–2011 Porto
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2013 Porto 17 (1)
2011–2012 → Rio Ave (loan) 27 (6)
2013–2017 Chelsea 0 (0)
2013–2014 → Vitesse (loan) 28 (5)
2014–2015 → Everton (loan) 5 (0)
2015–2016 → Bournemouth (loan) 0 (0)
2016 → Málaga (loan) 12 (2)
2016–2017 → Newcastle United (loan) 32 (5)
2017–2021 Newcastle United 75 (3)
2021–2022 Al-Raed 8 (0)
2022–2023 Hatayspor 3 (1)
International career
2012–2019 Ghana 65 (9)
Medal record
Representing  Ghana
Men's football
Africa Cup of Nations
Runner-up 2015 Guinea
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Christian Atsu Twasam (10 January 1992 – c. 6 February 2023) was a Ghanaian professional footballer who last played for Turkish Süper Lig club Hatayspor and the Ghana national team. He primarily played as a winger, although he was also deployed as an attacking midfielder.

Atsu began his career with Porto, also spending a season on loan at Rio Ave. In 2013, he was signed by Chelsea for £3.5 million, who subsequently loaned him to Vitesse Arnhem, Everton, AFC Bournemouth and Málaga. After spending the 2016–17 season on loan at Newcastle United, he completed a permanent transfer to the club in May 2017.

A full international with over 60 caps since his debut in 2012, Atsu represented Ghana at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. He helped the team finish as runners-up at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, in which he also won Player of the Tournament and Goal of the Tournament.

Early life

Atsu was born in Ada Foah, Greater Accra Region.[3] He spent some of his education at the then Feyenoord Football Academy at Gomoa Fetteh, in the Central Region of Ghana which has now been changed to West African Football Academy in Sogakope in the Volta Region of Ghana.[4] He later moved to join Cheetah FC, a club based in Kasoa.[5]

Club career

Porto

Atsu arrived at Porto at the age of 17. On 14 May 2011, he was called up by first-team manager André Villas-Boas for a Primeira Liga match against Marítimo, but he did not leave the bench.[citation needed]

As with teammate Kelvin, Atsu was sent on loan to fellow league side Rio Ave for the 2011–12 season. He made his debut in the competition on 28 August 2011, in a 0–1 home loss against Olhanense. On 16 December 2011, Atsu opened the score at Estádio da Luz against Benfica in the 24th minute, but the hosts eventually won it 5–1.[6]

He returned to Porto for the 2012–13 campaign, starting in nine of his league appearances as they won the national championship for the third consecutive time.[7]

Chelsea

On 1 September 2013, Atsu agreed to join Chelsea on a five-year contract, for a reported £3.5 million, being immediately loaned to Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem, for the rest of the 2013–14 season.[8]

Loan to Vitesse

On 6 October 2013, Atsu made his debut against Feyenoord as a substitute, replacing Kazaishvili in the 77th minute. He went on to providing an assist to Mike Havenaar, but it was not enough to prevent a 2–1 loss for Vitesse.[9] On 19 October, Atsu made his first start against SC Heerenveen, which ended in a 3–2 win for Vitesse.[10] On 9 November, he converted a penalty for his first goal with Vitesse, against FC Utrecht; the match ended in a 3–1 win for Vitesse.[11]

In total, Atsu played 30 games and scored 5 goals for the Dutch side as they finished 6th in the league and qualified to the playoffs.

Loan to Everton

Atsu (left) playing for Everton in 2015

On 13 August 2014, Atsu joined fellow Premier League club Everton on loan until the end of the 2014–15 season.[12] He made his first appearance for the club 10 days later, coming on as an 85th-minute substitute for Kevin Mirallas in a 2–2 draw with Arsenal at Goodison Park.[13]

On 21 September 2014, Atsu made his first start in the league against Crystal Palace, which ended in a 2–3 home loss.[14] After his absence due to the Africa Cup of Nations, Atsu returned to Everton's lineup on 19 February 2015 in a Europa League match against BSC Young Boys, playing out the last five minutes after replacing hat-trick scorer Romelu Lukaku.[15] and came off the bench three days later to set up a late equaliser in a 2–2 draw at home to Leicester City.[16]

On 15 March 2015, in the match against Newcastle United, he came off the bench with five minutes remaining, and provided an assist to fellow substitute Ross Barkley for Everton's third goal of a 3–0 home victory.[17] Following Atsu's impact as a substitute in the above games, he was picked to start the second leg of a Europa League Round of 16 match away to Dynamo Kyiv on 19 March with regular right-winger Aaron Lennon cup-tied, with Everton leading 2–1 from the first leg. His team were eliminated after losing 5–2 on the night, he was withdrawn in the 65th minute,[18] and that was his final first-team appearance for Everton.[19]

Loan to Bournemouth

On 29 May 2015, Atsu was loaned to newly promoted Premier League team Bournemouth for the upcoming season, with club Chief Executive Neill Blake calling the deal "a huge coup".[20] He made his debut on 25 August in the second round of the League Cup, starting in a 4–0 win at Hartlepool United. Atsu's only other appearance was in the next round's victory at Preston North End; he did not feature in any Bournemouth matchday squad in the league and he was recalled from his loan by Chelsea on 1 January 2016.[21]

Loan to Málaga

On 24 January 2016, Atsu gave an interview with the BBC World Service in which he spoke about leaving Chelsea and his imminent transfer to Levante.[22] The next day, it was confirmed that he would be instead moving to Málaga on loan.[23] On 5 February 2016, Atsu made his debut in the starting eleven and scored in a 3–0 victory over Getafe CF.[24]

Atsu playing for Newcastle in 2019

Newcastle United

On 31 August 2016, Atsu joined Newcastle United on a one-year loan deal with an option to buy clause in the contract.[25] On 13 September, his debut for the club came on as a substitute for Yoan Gouffran in the 61st minute in a 6–0 away victory against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road, where he provided the assist to Aleksandar Mitrović to earn their fifth goal.[26] Atsu scored his first goal for the club in a 1–0 win against Rotherham United on 1 October,[27] followed by further goals against Cardiff City and Wigan Athletic.

In May 2017, Atsu signed a four-year deal to join Newcastle permanently for £6.2 million from Chelsea.[28] He was released at its conclusion.[29]

Al-Raed

On 17 July 2021, Atsu joined Al-Raed.[30] Limited by injury, he played only eight games in the Saudi Professional League.[31]

Hatayspor

On 6 September 2022, Atsu signed for Süper Lig club Hatayspor on an inital one-year contract with the option for a further year.[32]

International career

Atsu on the ball in a friendly against Mali 2015

Atsu won his first senior cap for the Ghana national team on 1 June 2012 against Lesotho, scoring in the process.[33] He was described by the BBC as an "excellent prospect",[34] whilst ESPN added he was "quick and technically impressive", and a potential future star for his national team.[35]

The following year, he was in the Ghanaian squad for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa. He started the first match, a 2–2 draw against the DR Congo, and was a substitute in the following 1–0 win over Mali. He returned to the starting line-up in the last group match against Niger in Port Elizabeth, scoring the second goal of a 3–0 win which put his country into the quarter-finals as group winners.[36] Atsu featured in the rest of Ghana's matches as they came fourth, scoring in their penalty shootout elimination by Burkina Faso.[37]

Atsu was selected for the 2014 FIFA World Cup squad,[38] starting in all the matches as Ghana were eliminated in the group stage.

At the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, Atsu scored twice in a 3–0 win over Guinea in the quarter-finals.[39] He helped the team to the final, where they lost in a penalty shootout against the Ivory Coast. At the end of the tournament, he was awarded with both the Player of the Tournament award, as well as the Goal of the Tournament award for his strike against Guinea.[40]

Personal life

Atsu was a devout Christian who shared Bible verses on social media.[41] He was married to author Marie-Claire Rupio with whom he had two sons and a daughter.[42]

Death

On 6 February 2023, Atsu went missing in the immediate aftermath of the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake; he was feared to be among those trapped under the rubble of Hatayspor's headquarters in Antakya following the quake.[43][44] Subsequent reports were conflicted over Atsu's fate following the quake, with some reports indicating he had been rescued,[45][46][47] while others denied these claims.[48][49] As of 9 February 2023, no definitive information on his condition and whereabouts was available.[50]

On 14 February, Atsu's agent confirmed two pairs of his shoes had been found, but that Atsu himself had still not been found.[51] On 18 February, confirmation was received by his agent that his body was recovered from the rubble of the building he was residing in. News outlets reported his death at approximately 6am GMT.[52]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Rio Ave 2011–12 Primeira Liga 27 6 1 0 2 0 — 30 6
Porto 2012–13 Primeira Liga 17 1 3 0 1 0 8[c] 0 29 1
Vitesse (loan) 2013–14 Eredivisie 28 5 2 0 — 0 0 30 5
Everton (loan) 2014–15 Premier League 5 0 0 0 1 0 7[d] 0 13 0
Bournemouth (loan) 2015–16 Premier League 0 0 0 0 2 0 — 2 0
Málaga (loan) 2015–16 La Liga 12 2 0 0 — — 12 2
Newcastle United (loan) 2016–17 Championship 32 5 0 0 3 0 — 35 5
Newcastle United 2017–18 Premier League 28 2 1 0 0 0 — 29 2
2018–19[53] Premier League 28 1 3 0 1 0 — 32 1
2019–20 Premier League 19 0 4 0 1 0 — 24 0
2020–21 Premier League 0 0 0 0 1 0 — 1 0
Newcastle total 107 8 8 0 6 0 — 121 8
Al-Raed 2021–22 Saudi Pro League 8 0 0 0 — — 8 0
Hatayspor 2022–23 Süper Lig 3 1 1 0 — — 4 1
Career total 207 23 15 0 12 0 15 0 249 23
  1. ^ Includes Taça de Portugal, KNVB Cup, FA Cup, Turkish Cup
  2. ^ Includes Taça da Liga, EFL Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  4. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Ghana 2012 7 2
2013 13 3
2014 11 1
2015 12 3
2016 6 1
2017 8 0
2018 2 0
2019 6 0
Total 65 10
Scores and results list Ghana's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Atsu goal.[54] Some sources credit Atsu with scoring a goal against Lesotho on 16 June 2023,[54][55] but FIFA credited it to John Boye.[56]
List of international goals scored by Christian Atsu
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 1 June 2012 Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, Ghana  Lesotho 5–0 7–0 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 8 September 2012 Accra Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana  Malawi 1–0 2–0 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
3 28 January 2013 Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa  Niger 2–0 3–0 2013 Africa Cup of Nations
4 15 October 2013 Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, Ghana  Egypt 6–1 6–1 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
5 10 September 2014 Stade de Kégué, Lomé, Togo  Togo 3–2 3–2 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
6 1 February 2015 Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea  Guinea 1–0 3–0 2015 Africa Cup of Nations
7 3–0
8 14 June 2015 Accra Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana  Mauritius 1–0 7–1 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
9 5 June 2016 Stade Anjalay, Belle Vue Maurel, Mauritius  Mauritius 2–0 2–0 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

Honours

Porto[57]

Newcastle United[57]

Ghana

Individual

  • Vitesse Player of the Year: 2013–14[59]
  • Africa Cup of Nations Player of the Tournament: 2015[60]
  • Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament: 2015,[60] 2017[61]
  • Africa Cup of Nations Goal of the Tournament: 2015[60]

References

  1. ^ "Player shirt numbers for 20 Barclays Premier League clubs released". Premier League. 8 August 2015. Archived from the original on 9 August 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  2. ^ "Christian Atsu: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Christian Atsu – The newest Black Star". Ghana Web. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
  4. ^ "Christian Atsu: 'Sometimes what's happened to me seems like a miracle'". The Guardian. 21 February 2019.
  5. ^ Waugh, Chris (14 July 2021). "Christian Atsu: Disagreeing with Bruce, being shoved by Benitez, Howe's tough training and nearly joining Liverpool". The Athletic. Archived from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  6. ^ "Benfica cruise past Rio Ave". PortuGOAL. 16 December 2011. Archived from the original on 25 January 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  7. ^ Ayisi, Kojo. "Christian Atsu reflects on time at Portuguese giants FC Porto". Archived from the original on 25 January 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  8. ^ "Christian Atsu: Chelsea sign Porto striker on five-year deal". BBC Sport. 1 September 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  9. ^ "Vitesse 1–2 Feyenoord". Soccerway. 6 October 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  10. ^ "Vitesse 1–2 Feyenoord". Soccerway. 19 October 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  11. ^ "Vitesse 3–1 Utercht". Soccerway. 9 November 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  12. ^ "Atsu Deal Complete". Everton. 13 August 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  13. ^ Bevan, Chris (23 August 2014). "Everton 2–2 Arsenal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  14. ^ "Everton 2–3 Crystal Palace". Soccerway. 21 September 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  15. ^ "Romelu Lukaku responded to recent fan criticism with a first Everton hat-trick in a fine Europa League round of 32 first-leg win over Young Boys". BBC Sports. 19 February 2015.
  16. ^ "Everton 2–2 Leicester City". BBC Sport. 22 February 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  17. ^ Dove, Ed (16 March 2015). "Atsu helps Everton to big Premier League victory over Newcastle United". Goal.com. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  18. ^ Reddy, Luke (19 March 2015). "Dynamo Kyiv 5–2 Everton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  19. ^ "Games played by Christian Atsu in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  20. ^ "Christian Atsu: Chelsea winger joins AFC Bournemouth on loan". BBC Sport. 29 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  21. ^ "Chelsea recall Christian Atsu from loan and put him in first-team". Metro. 1 January 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  22. ^ "Christian Atsu on his Levante transfer". BBC World Service. 24 January 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  23. ^ "Christian Atsu leaves Chelsea for Malaga on loan". Sky Sports. 25 January 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  24. ^ "Juanpi and Charles inspire comfortable win for Malaga". ESPN. 5 February 2016.
  25. ^ "Newcastle complete loan deal for Chelsea winger Christian Atsu". ESPN. 31 August 2016.
  26. ^ "Queens Park Rangers 0–6 Newcastle United". BBC Sport. 14 September 2016.
  27. ^ "Rotherham 0–1 Newcastle". BBC Sport. 1 October 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  28. ^ "Chelsea winger Christian Atsu agrees to join Newcastle". Sky Sports. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  29. ^ Kennedy, Liam (31 May 2021). "Christian Atsu linked with Championship switch as Newcastle United deal comes to an end". Shields Gazette. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  30. ^ "أنهى رئيس مجلس إدارة نادي #الرائد الأستاذ فهد المطوع رسمياً اليوم اجراءات التعاقد مع اللاعب الغاني " كريستيان اتسو " قادماً من نادي نيوكاسل يونايتد الانجليزي". Arabic. 17 July 2021. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021.
  31. ^ Bennett, Charlie (29 May 2022). "How Carroll, Atsu, Lejeune and Newcastle United's other summer exits fared this season". Evening Chronicle. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  32. ^ "CHRİSTİAN ATSU ATAKAŞ HATAYSPOR'UMUZDA" [CHRISTIAN ATSU ATAKAS IS IN OUR HATAYSPOR]. hatayspor.org.tr (in Turkish). 6 September 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  33. ^ "Atsu makes debut statement". Ghana Web. 1 June 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  34. ^ Michael Oti Adjei (12 September 2012). "Ghana hails exciting new talent". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  35. ^ Atkins, Christopher (12 June 2013). "World Cup 2014: Ten potential breakout stars". ESPN FC. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  36. ^ Hughes, Ian (28 January 2013). "Ghana 3–0 Niger". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  37. ^ Hughes, Ian (6 February 2015). "Burkina Faso 1–1 Ghana". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  38. ^ "Ghana World Cup 2014 squad". The Daily Telegraph. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  39. ^ Hughes, Ian (1 February 2015). "Ghana 3–0 Guinea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  40. ^ Jones, Neil (9 February 2015). "Everton FC's Christian Atsu named AFCON Player of the Tournament". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  41. ^ Ollie Baines (8 January 2017). "Newcastle United star, Christian Atsu – "I'm inspired by God who gives me strength"". Cross the Line. Archived from the original on 29 February 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  42. ^ Taylor, Louise (21 February 2019). "Christian Atsu: 'Sometimes what's happened to me seems like a miracle'". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  43. ^ "Christian Atsu: 'Prayers' for Ghana forward after Turkey quake". BBC Sport. 6 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  44. ^ "Newcastle United 'praying for' former star Christian Atsu missing after Turkey quake". Sky News. 6 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  45. ^ "Ghana's Christian Atsu taken to hospital after Turkey earthquakes". The Guardian. 6 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  46. ^ "Hataysporlu Christian Atsu'dan iyi haber!". Fanatik (in Turkish). 7 February 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  47. ^ "Footballer Atsu rescued from Turkey quake rubble". BBC Sport. 7 February 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  48. ^ "Christian Atsu için Portekiz kaynaklı haber yalanlandı". NTV (in Turkish). 6 February 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  49. ^ "Volkan Demirel iddiaları yalanladı: 'Atsu ve Taner'den haber yok'" [Volkan Demirel denies the allegations: 'There is no news from Atsu and Taner']. Cumhuriyet (in Turkish). 8 February 2023.
  50. ^ "Atsu's whereabouts unknown, says player's agent". BBC Sport. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  51. ^ "Christian Atsu yet to be found although shoes have been recovered, says agent". Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  52. ^ "Christian Atsu öldü mü? Christian Atsu kimdir, kaç yaşında, nereli? Christian Atsu'nun oynadığı takımlar!". CNN Türk (in Turkish). 18 February 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  53. ^ "Games played by Christian Atsu in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  54. ^ a b Christian Atsu at National-Football-Teams.com
  55. ^ "Lesotho vs. Ghana - Football Match Report - June 16, 2013". ESPN. 16 June 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  56. ^ "2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil". FIFA.com. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2023. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help)
  57. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Soccerway was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  58. ^ "Ghana names final squad for AFCON 2015 - MyJoyOnline.com". Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  59. ^ "Mason Mount becomes third Chelsea loanee to win Vitesse Player of the Year award". SB Nation. 29 April 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  60. ^ a b c "Orange AFCON 2015 Awards and Best XI". CAF. 12 February 2015.
  61. ^ "Bassogog named Total Man of the Competition". CAF. 6 February 2017.

External links

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