Former Chelsea and Newcastle player Christian Atsu
(Picture: Newcastle United via Getty Image)Former Premier League footballer Christian Atsu is reportedly among people trapped under rubble in Turkey after a devastating earthquake hit the country.
A search and rescue operation has been launched after the former Chelsea midfielder was reported missing, according to Turkish publication Star.
Atsu, 31, plays for Super Lig club Hatayspor which is based in the Kahramanaras region – one of the worst areas affected.
Several of Atsu’s teammates were reportedly rescued by specialists at their homes after the earthquake struck at 4am local time.
Two players and members of the technical staff were “pulled out of the rubble” during dramatic rescue operations.
Hatayspor’s sporting director Taner Savut has also been reporting missing. A desperate search was said to be under way for both men.
Atsu joined Chelsea from Porto for £3.5million in 2013 but failed to make a single appearance for the Premier League side.
Praying for some positive news, @ChristianAtsu20. 🙏🖤🤍 pic.twitter.com/HQT6yZOmRB
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) February 6, 2023
He also had loan spells at Vitesse, Everton, Bournemouth, Malaga and Newcastle, where he completed a permanent move afte helping the side win promotion back to the Premier League in 2017.
A post on the Newcastle’s official Twitter account said: “Praying for some positive news, @ChristianAtsu20.”
Atsu, who scored deep into stoppage time on Sunday to secure a 1-0 win over Kasimpasa, left St James' Park during the summer of 2021 after making 121 appearances for the club.
