Who is Christian Atsu, ex-Chelsea footballer trapped under rubble after Turkey earthquakes?

Former Premier League footballer Christian Atsu is said to be among those trapped under rubble in Turkey following devastating earthquakes.

According to the Turkish newspaper Star, a search and rescue operation has been initiated after the former Chelsea midfielder went missing. Atsu is a player for the Kahramanaras region-based Super Lig team Hatayspor, which is located in one of the worst-affected localities.

The devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Turkey and northern Syria was followed by numerous intense aftershocks, resulting in almost 1,900 fatalities and thousands more injuries. After the earthquake struck at 4 am local time, a number of Atsu’s teammates reportedly needed to be rescued by professionals at their residences.

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Who is Christian Atsu?

Christian Atsu Twasam is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays for the Turkish Super Lig club Hatayspor and the Ghana national team. He was born on January 10, 1992. He is primarily used as a winger, but he has also been used as an attacking midfielder.

Atsu was born in Ada Foah in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. He received some of his education at the then Feyenoord Football Academy in Gomoa Fetteh, in Ghana’s Central Region, which has now been renamed West African Football Academy in Sogakope, in Ghana’s Volta Region. He later joined Cheetah FC, a Kasoa-based club.

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He began his career with Porto before moving on to Rio Ave for a season. Chelsea signed him for £3.5 million in 2013, and he has since been loaned to Vitesse Arnhem, Everton, AFC Bournemouth, and Málaga. After spending the 2016-17 season on loan at Newcastle United, he signed a permanent transfer deal in May 2017.

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Atsu, a full international with more than 30 appearances under his belt since his 2012 debut, has represented Ghana at two Africa Cup of Nations competitions in addition to the 2014 FIFA World Cup. At the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, where he also won Player of the Tournament and Goal of the Tournament, he contributed to the team’s second-place result.