Accra Hearts of Oak has been placed under a transfer ban by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) following the club’s failure to comply with a directive to pay $70,000 to New Edubiase United FC.
The ban, in accordance with Article 15(1)(c) of the GFA Disciplinary Code, took effect after the Phobians missed the final deadline of 31st May 2025 to settle the amount.
The payment stems from a decision by the GFA Players’ Status Committee, which ordered Hearts of Oak to pay New Edubiase $50,000 as the outstanding balance on the transfer of midfielder Salim Adams, along with an additional $20,000 representing 40 percent of an onward transfer fee.
Although both clubs met in March 2025 to resolve the matter amicably, Hearts of Oak reportedly failed to honour their side of the agreement.
Sources told JoySports that the Phobians had pleaded with New Edubiase to write off the debt, citing a failed transfer of Salim Adams to FC Cincinnati, which significantly affected expected earnings.
The club was expected to make nearly $1 million from the player’s transfer, but Adams failed to meet the performance threshold abroad and returned to Ghana.
Hearts of Oak had earlier agreed to pay $120,000 for permanently signing Adams but only paid $50,000.
Despite New Edubiase initially agreeing in principle to waive the balance due to the failed transfer, they claim Hearts of Oak did not follow through on conditions tied to that concession, prompting their insistence on the full $70,000 payment.
Consequently, the GFA Disciplinary Committee, in a ruling dated 8th May 2025, fined the club GH¢5,000 and gave it until the end of May to pay the debt in full or face sanctions—including the now-active transfer ban.
Portions of the decision sighted by JoySports’ Muftawu Nabila Abdulai said Hearts of Oak would face a transfer ban if they failed to settle the debt.
Pursuant to Article 15(1)(c) of the GFA Disciplinary Code, the decision stated that the club shall suffer a transfer ban—both domestic and international—until full payment is made, should Accra Hearts of Oak SC fail to comply with the stated directives by the given deadline.
It added that in accordance with Article 15(2) of the Code, Hearts of Oak was warned to strictly comply with the decision, failing which the sanctions mentioned would be applied automatically by the GFA, its departments, and affiliated bodies.
On 13th June 2025, New Edubiase United formally wrote to the General Secretary of the GFA confirming that Hearts of Oak remained in continuous default beyond the 31st May deadline.
In the letter, the club’s Chief Executive Officer, Alex Ackumey, referenced Decision No. 4 of the Disciplinary Committee’s ruling and noted that the sanction under Article 15(1)(c) had become automatically applicable due to Hearts of Oak’s persistent default.
The letter read that Hearts of Oak was still in continuous default, and therefore, the specified sanction was in effect. The club added that it deemed it necessary to notify the GFA of this development as per the administrative provisions of the ruling.
Sources claim Hearts of Oak contacted Edubiase about a week ago to inform them that a $20,000 cheque was ready, but the club declined it.
Under the GFA’s disciplinary regulations, the transfer ban prevents Hearts of Oak from registering new players both locally and internationally until the full amount is paid.
The regulations also permit further sanctions, including points deduction or relegation, should the club continue to default.