Christian Atsu Twasam, born on 10 January 1992, was a Ghanaian professional footballer known for playing primarily as a winger, though he also featured as an attacking midfielder and left back.
He began his career with Porto and had a loan spell at Rio Ave. In 2013, he signed with Chelsea for £3.5 million but spent most of his time on loan to clubs like Vitesse, Everton, Bournemouth, and Málaga.
Atsu later joined Newcastle United, first on loan in 2016, then permanently in 2017. After his four-year stay, he played for Al Raed in Saudi Arabia and Hatayspor in Turkey. He tragically died in the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake at the age of 31.
On the international stage, Atsu earned 65 caps for Ghana between 2012 and 2019. He represented his country at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. He was a key player in Ghana’s run to the 2015 final, winning both the Player of the Tournament and Goal of the Tournament awards.
Atsu was born in Ada Foah in Ghana’s Greater Accra Region and grew up in poverty as one of ten siblings. He spent part of his youth at the Feyenoord Football Academy and later trained at the West African Football Academy before joining Cheetah FC.
During his club career, Atsu gained experience across top leagues in Europe. At Porto, he made his debut in the 2011–12 season and later returned for the 2012–13 campaign, helping them win the league.
At Chelsea, he never featured in the first team but had productive spells on loan, particularly at Vitesse and Newcastle United. Injuries limited his time at Bournemouth and Al Raed, but he enjoyed moments of success, including scoring a late winner for Hatayspor a day before the earthquake.
Atsu made an impact for Ghana from his debut in 2012, scoring in his first game. He played at several major tournaments and was a standout in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. He continued to represent Ghana until 2019, including appearances at the 2017 and 2019 tournaments.
A devoted Christian, Atsu was deeply involved in charitable work. He was an ambassador for Arms Around the Child and often helped vulnerable individuals, including paying bail for prisoners in Ghana. He was married to Marie-Claire Rupio and had two sons and a daughter.
Atsu went missing after the 6 February 2023 earthquake in Turkey. Despite early reports suggesting he was rescued, his body was eventually found on 18 February under the rubble of his apartment building.
Tributes poured in from around the world, with his former club Newcastle United honoring him with a minute of applause during a match attended by his widow and children. His death was widely mourned by the football community.
