Ghanaian footballer Christian Atsu, 31, has been discovered lifeless in southern Turkey underneath the rubble of the constructing he lived in, after final week’s huge earthquakes, his Turkish agent and membership mentioned on Saturday.

The previous Premier League participant, who joined Turkish membership Hatayspor final 12 months, had been lacking for the reason that February 6 earthquakes devastated southern Turkey and northwestern Syria.

“Atsu’s lifeless physique was discovered underneath the rubble,” agent Murat Uzunmehmet informed reporters in Hatay.

“Presently, extra objects are nonetheless being taken out. His cellphone was additionally discovered.”

Search groups recovered Atsu’s physique within the ruins of Ronesans Residence, a luxurious 12-storey constructing the place he had been residing, within the metropolis of Antakya in Hatay province.

The constructing’s contractor was arrested at Istanbul airport final week whereas apparently attempting to go away the nation for Montenegro, based on state information company Anadolu.

The funeral of our soccer participant Christian Atsu, who misplaced his life underneath the rubble ( particles), is on his technique to be despatched to his hometown, Ghana. We won’t neglect you, Atsu. Peace be upon you, stunning particular person. There aren’t any phrases to explain our disappointment.
REST in PEACE ATSU

— Hatayspor (@Hatayspor_FK) February 18, 2023

Atsu had been scheduled to fly out of southern Turkey hours earlier than the earthquakes, however Hatayspor’s supervisor mentioned on Friday that the Ghanaian opted to stick with the membership after scoring the successful objective in a Tremendous Lig match on February 5.

Ghana’s ministry of overseas affairs mentioned it had “acquired the unlucky information”.

“The elder brother and twin sister of Christian Atsu and an officer of the (Ghanaian) embassy have been current on the web site when the physique was recovered,” the ministry mentioned in an announcement.

Atsu joined Hatayspor final September after spells with English Premier League golf equipment Everton, Chelsea and Newcastle United.

There have been preliminary stories that Atsu had been rescued a day after the quakes, however these turned out to be false.

‘We won’t neglect you’

Tributes poured in for Atsu on social media, together with heartfelt messages from his former golf equipment.

“We won’t neglect you, Atsu. Peace be upon you, stunning particular person. There aren’t any phrases to explain our disappointment,” Hatayspor mentioned on Twitter.

Newcastle described him as “a proficient participant and a particular particular person, he’ll at all times be fondly remembered by our gamers, workers and supporters”.

Atsu gained 65 caps for Ghana and helped them attain the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations closing, the place they misplaced to Ivory Coast on penalties. He was final chosen to play for Ghana in 2019.

“We wish to specific our deepest condolences to his spouse and youngsters, the household, family members and the soccer group,” mentioned the Ghana Soccer Affiliation.

Everybody at Chelsea Soccer Membership is devastated to study of the tragic passing of our former participant, Christian Atsu. Our ideas exit to his household and pals.

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 18, 2023

He joined Chelsea from Porto in 2013 and had a number of mortgage spells at golf equipment together with Vitesse and Bournemouth.

“Chelsea sends our heartfelt condolences to Christian’s household and pals and to all these affected by the earthquake tragedy,” the London membership mentioned.

Everton additionally launched an announcement on Twitter, saying the membership was “deeply saddened” by the information of Atsu’s demise.

“Our ideas are together with his household, pals, colleagues at Hatayspor and everybody affected by this tragic occasion that has claimed so many lives,” they mentioned.

Greater than 45,000 individuals have been killed within the earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria, and the toll is predicted to rise additional with some 264,000 flats in Turkey destroyed and many individuals nonetheless lacking.