Accra Hearts of Oak have been slapped with a transfer ban by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) following the club’s failure to settle an outstanding $70,000 owed to New Edubiase United FC in connection with the transfer of midfielder Salim Adams.
The ban took effect after the Phobians missed the May 31, 2025 deadline to make the required payment, in accordance with Article 15(1)(c) of the GFA Disciplinary Code.
According to the GFA Players’ Status Committee, Hearts were mandated to pay $50,000 as the remaining balance for Adams’ permanent transfer, in addition to $20,000 representing 40% of a future transfer fee. The original deal valued the full transfer at $120,000, but only $50,000 has been paid to date.
Adams was loaned to Major League Soccer side FC Cincinnati in 2022, with the potential of a permanent deal worth around $1 million. However, the move did not materialize, and the player returned to Ghana. In a meeting held in March 2025, Hearts appealed to New Edubiase to waive the outstanding balance, but failed to honour any new terms that may have been agreed upon.
On June 13, New Edubiase CEO Alex Ackumey formally notified the GFA of Hearts’ continued default, triggering the automatic enforcement of the transfer ban.
Although Hearts attempted to settle part of the debt with a $20,000 cheque, the payment was rejected by Edubiase, who are demanding the full amount.
As it stands, Hearts of Oak are barred from registering any new players both domestically and internationally until the full debt is cleared. Additional sanctions could follow if the club remains non-compliant.
This is a serious situation for Accra Hearts of Oak. The transfer ban could significantly impact the club’s performance in upcoming seasons. It’s disappointing that negotiations with New Edubiase United FC fell through. The club must act swiftly to resolve this issue to avoid further consequences. How will this affect their strategy for the next transfer window? Given the growing economic instability due to the events in the Middle East, many businesses are looking for guaranteed fast and secure payment solutions. Recently, I came across LiberSave (LS) — they promise instant bank transfers with no chargebacks or card verification. It says integration takes 5 minutes and is already being tested in Israel and the UAE. Has anyone actually checked how this works in crisis conditions?