Black Stars goalkeeper Benjamin Asare remains without a foreign club despite strong performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with his age, contract situation and work permit complications continuing to delay a potential move.
Asare’s representatives have been working to find him a new club, presenting his Curriculum Vitae to teams in Europe and elsewhere. However, several proposed transfers have failed to reach completion, according to Ghanaian sports journalist Rahman Osman.
Osman said a move to Azerbaijan was recently close to being completed before the clubs involved discovered that securing a work permit for Asare could take between six and seven weeks.
“There are deals that are very close, yet it just seems very difficult to cross the line. Honestly, they’ve been working incredibly hard to get him a club. Just last week, there was a deal almost doneabout $60,000 to $70,000 for a nine-month loan in Azerbaijan. I have the documents here. Everyone agreed for Asare to go, but they later found out it would take six to seven weeks to get a work permit, so the deal didn’t happen,” Osman explained in a video shared on X.
The proposed agreement would have been worth between $60,000 and $70,000 for a nine-month loan, but the delay involved in obtaining the necessary documentation meant the deal could not be completed.
Asare’s continued contract with Hearts of Oak has also emerged as a major obstacle. The goalkeeper has one year remaining on his current agreement, meaning interested clubs would potentially have to negotiate a transfer fee rather than sign him as a free agent.
Osman said clubs were also weighing Asare’s age against the financial costs of completing a transfer.
“So many clubs have shown interest. But because he has one year left on his Hearts of Oak deal, they want him on a free transfer, which doesn’t make sense. For example, Solomon Agbesi returned from the World Cup as a free agent, so it was easy for him to move to South Africa. Asare, however, still has a contract, and with his age, it’s difficult. Clubs are considering the age, the contract, and the costs involved. That’s why I said, just pray for Asare,” he added.
The situation contrasts with that of Solomon Agbesi, who was able to move to South Africa after returning from the World Cup as a free agent. Asare’s existing deal with Hearts of Oak has made negotiations more complicated, particularly with clubs unwilling to pay a fee for a goalkeeper they view as an older player.
Despite the setbacks, Asare has returned to training with Hearts of Oak. He is expected to begin the season as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper while his agents continue seeking an overseas opportunity.
With only a few days remaining in the transfer market, Asare’s representatives face a limited window to complete a move. For now, the goalkeeper remains contracted to Hearts of Oak, with work permit requirements, his age and the club’s transfer demands all standing in the way of a deal.
