Ghana Premier League side Hearts of Oak have been hit with another transfer ban, just days after settling a $38,000 agreement with New Edubiase United FC—an amount that had earlier led to a similar sanction by the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
The latest ban stems from the club’s failure to meet a July 7, 2025, deadline to pay over GH¢106,000 to former player Francis Adjetey, as directed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The initial transfer ban was imposed after Hearts of Oak failed 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.
Although a meeting in March 2025 saw New Edubiase offer to waive part of the amount due to the failed transfer of Salim Adams to FC Cincinnati, Hearts of Oak failed to honour the agreed timelines.
As a result, 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.
However, the club later paid the revised settlement of $38,000 in full, prompting the GFA to lift the ban, as per its regulations.
Shortly after resolving the Edubiase matter, Hearts of Oak found themselves facing a new ban—this time for breaching a CAS ruling over unpaid entitlements to former player Francis Adjetey.
On June 24, 2025, the GFA Disciplinary Committee enforced CAS’s directive, ordering the club to pay GH¢106,477.42, plus 5% annual interest from September 15, 2023, and $1,250 in legal costs.
The GFA issued 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 the deadline, triggering a second ban that restricts them from registering new players domestically and internationally.
The club reportedly proposed to settle the amount in three tranches, with a first payment scheduled for Friday, July 11, 2025. However, Adjetey rejected the offer, insisting on receiving the full amount upfront.
While it remains unclear how much the club initially offered, sources say the former Tema Youth captain is unwilling to accept any part-payment.
Hearts of Oak’s Managing Director, Delali Anku Adiamah, has been in direct talks with the player in a bid to restore trust, but Adjetey is said to be deeply disappointed and reluctant to compromise.
As of Wednesday, July 9, 2025, the club had not reached an agreement with the player.
The GFA has indicated that the ban will be automatically lifted once Hearts of Oak completes full payment.
