Accra Hearts of Oak have been placed under a transfer embargo by the Ghana Football Association (GFA), barring the club from registering any new players until further notice. The ban is a significant setback for the Phobians, who are in the middle of a critical rebuilding phase under newly appointed coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani.
According to the GFA, the embargo stems from Hearts of Oak’s failure to fulfill key financial obligations owed to fellow Ghanaian club New Edubiase United. The matter concerns the transfer of midfielder Salim Adams, who moved from New Edubiase to Hearts of Oak in 2021.
Despite the player’s contributions and a subsequent move to FC Cincinnati in 2023, crucial financial terms of the agreement remain unsettled:
- $50,000 of the agreed $100,000 transfer fee for Salim’s initial move in 2021 remains unpaid.
- An additional $20,000 sell-on fee, which was triggered when Salim signed for MLS side FC Cincinnati in 2023, also remains outstanding.
- The club ignored a March 2025 directive from the GFA’s Player Status Committee, which ordered Hearts to pay the total $70,000 debt by May 31, 2025.
The transfer ban could not have come at a worse time for the Ghanaian giants, who are aiming to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season and upcoming competitions, including the President’s Cup clash with rivals Asante Kotoko.
With player recruitment now halted, the club faces a serious challenge in bolstering weak areas of the squad—a concern that may hinder their ambitions domestically and on the continental stage.
The GFA has made it clear that the embargo will be lifted immediately upon full payment of the $70,000 owed to New Edubiase United. Until then, the Phobians must rely solely on their existing players, youth talent, and returning loanees to compete.
This development places the onus squarely on Hearts of Oak’s board and financial managers to resolve the issue promptly if they hope to avoid a disrupted campaign.
The club is yet to release an official statement regarding the matter.