Uriah Asante inks deal with Etoile du Sahel

Supersport.com can confirm that former Hearts of Oak forward Uriah Asante will sign a four year deal at a fee around $600,000 with Etoile du Sahel. The Tunisian giants will unveil their new signing in the coming days after the player returned to finish the protracted deal.

Asante recently returned to Ghana after talks broke down between his owners PureJoy FC and the Tunisian giants despite successfully undergoing medical tests and a short assessment. Supersport.com understands that the deal nearly broke down after Etoile du Sahel tabled $200,000 as transfer fee, an amount which fell short of an initially agreed fee.

Genesis and issues

Etoile Du Sahel contacted Pure Joy for the services of Uriah Asante through Senegalese FIFA agent Mamadou Cherif after watching his exciting performances via social networking site YouTube. Both parties agreed at an $800,000 fee for 4 years subject to a successful medical tests and a short assessment.

Asante, after the short assessment, had his medicals on July 3 which he passed but had to wait as a result of a sudden twist in already agreed terms. Etoile du Sahel had tabled a transfer agreement to his owners in which the transfer fee fell 75% short of the already agreed fee.

This, according to Supersport.com’s investigations resulted in the management of PureJoy FC deciding to call off the deal hence Asante’s return to Ghana.

Etoile du Sahel recently signed Nigerien centre forward Moussa Maazou from CSKA Moscow and his transfer is believed to have drained the club forcing Etoile to try and beat down the price of Uriah Asante.

Resolution

Supersport.com can now confirm the two parties have now resolved the matter and Uriah Asante has returned to Tunisia to begin life with the African giants in earnest. The Chief executive of PureJoy FC tells SuperSport.com that the deal is almost done.

"The deal is about 70% complete and we are making headway. Uriah will most likely be playing for Etoile," said Isaac Tetteh.