Hearts of Oak have had their transfer ban officially lifted after settling the outstanding payment owed to former player Francis Adjetey on Thursday, July 17, 2025.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) had imposed the ban after the club failed to meet a July 7, 2025, deadline to pay over GHS 106,000 to Adjetey, as directed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The payment included GHS 106,477.42, plus 5% annual interest from September 2023, and $1,250 in legal costs. In told, over GHC 129,000 was paid to the player.
The ban, which prohibited the club from registering players both locally and internationally, became effective after Hearts missed the GFA’s final deadline earlier this month. However, after weeks of negotiations and failed attempts to stagger the payment, the club made the full settlement on Thursday, July 17.
This clears the final hurdle that had placed restrictions on their transfer activities.
Per GFA regulations, the ban was automatically lifted following the payment.
Early this week, JoySports sources revealed that Mr Adjetey’s team wrote to the GFA to enforce a transfer ban on Hearts of Oak, and the club responded by making the payment on Thursday.
About two weeks ago, the club cleared a separate $38,000 debt to New Edubiase United — a payment that had earlier led to the lifting of a previous ban relating to the transfer of Salim Adams.
With both financial disputes now resolved, Hearts of Oak are free to conduct their transfer business ahead of the 2025/2026 Ghana Premier League season.
However, media reports suggest that the club could still be in hot waters after FIFA ordered them to pay former Technical Director, Rene Hiddink $150,000.
They could yet again face transfer ban if they fail to settle Mr Hiddink.
