Hearts of Oak Slapped with Transfer Ban Over $70,000 Debt to New Edubiase United
Accra Hearts of Oak have been handed a transfer ban by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) after failing to honour a $70,000 debt owed to New Edubiase United FC over the transfer of midfielder Salim Adams.
The GFA confirmed the sanction, which took effect after the Phobians missed the final May 31, 2025 deadline to settle the outstanding balance, in accordance with Article 15(1)(c) of the GFA Disciplinary Code.
According to the ruling by the GFA’s Players’ Status Committee, Hearts of Oak were required to pay $50,000 as the outstanding amount from Adams’ transfer, as well as an additional $20,000, representing 40% of any future transfer fee generated from a subsequent sale of the player. The original agreement valued Adams’ transfer at $120,000, of which only $50,000 has been paid to date.
Salim Adams joined Hearts of Oak from New Edubiase and was later loaned to Major League Soccer outfit FC Cincinnati in 2022. The move was expected to become permanent in a deal reportedly worth up to $1 million. However, the transfer did not materialize, and Adams eventually returned to Ghana, leaving Hearts without the anticipated windfall.
In an attempt to address the situation, Hearts of Oak officials held a meeting with New Edubiase in March 2025, during which they appealed for forgiveness of the debt. Despite the meeting, the club failed to meet the agreed settlement terms.
New Edubiase CEO Alex Ackumey subsequently wrote to the GFA on June 13, confirming Hearts’ continued default, thereby triggering the enforcement of the transfer ban. A recent attempt by Hearts to settle the matter with a $20,000 cheque was turned down by Edubiase, who are demanding the full payment.
The transfer ban prohibits Hearts of Oak from registering any new players both domestically and internationally until the full debt is cleared. The GFA has also warned that further sanctions could be imposed if the club remains non-compliant with the ruling.
