Hearts of Oak hit with another transfer ban despite settling New Edubiase debt

Ghana Premier League side, Hearts of Oak, have been hit with another transfer ban despite clearing a $38,000 settlement agreed with New Edubiase United FC, leading to the lifting of a transfer ban previously imposed by the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

However, just days later, a fresh transfer ban has been imposed on the club for failing to meet a July 7, 2025, deadline to pay over GHC 106,000 to former player Francis Adjetey, as directed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The initial transfer ban followed Hearts of Oak’s failure to comply with a GFA Players’ Status Committee ruling that required the club to pay $70,000 to New Edubiase United: $50,000 as the outstanding balance on Salim Adams’ transfer, and $20,000 representing 40% of an onward transfer fee of Salim Adams.

Despite a meeting in March 2025 in which New Edubiase offered to waive part of the amount due to the failed transfer of Salim Adams to FC Cincinnati, Hearts of Oak failed to honour agreed timelines.

Consequently, the GFA imposed a transfer ban in accordance with Article 15(1)(c) of its Disciplinary Code after the club missed the final deadline of May 31, 2025.

New Edubiase wrote to the football governing body to enforce the ban.

However, both parties later reached a revised settlement of $38,000, which Hearts of Oak paid in full about two weeks ago, per JoySports sources.

As per the GFA’s regulations, the transfer ban was automatically lifted once the amount was settled.

A few days after settling Edubiase, the club found themselves in breach of another disciplinary decision stemming from a CAS ruling concerning unpaid entitlements to former player Francis Adjetey.

On June 24, 2025, the GFA Disciplinary Committee enforced the CAS directive, instructing the club to pay: GHS 106,477.42, plus 5% annual interest from September 15, 2023, and $1,250 in legal costs.

The GFA gave the club a final deadline of July 7, 2025, warning that failure to comply would result in an automatic transfer ban.

According to JoySports sources, Hearts of Oak missed this deadline, triggering the second transfer ban, which again restricts the club from registering new players both domestically and internationally.

JoySports understands the club offered to pay the money in three tranches and had promised to make first payment on Friday,  July 11, 2025, but Adjetey rejected the offer, insisting on receiving full payment.

It is unclear how much the club offered to pay, but club sources say Adjetey is reluctant to accept any offer.

The club, through its Managing Director, Delali Anku Adiamah has been engaging the player, hoping to rebuild trust, but the former Tema Youth captain appears hurt beyond repair.

As of Wednesday, July 9, 2025, the club had not reached an agreement with the player.

The ban will be automatically lifted should Hearts of Oak completes payment.

Read More