Accra Hearts of Oak have made a bold statement about their ambitions by rejecting a $250,000 transfer offer from a Saudi Arabian club for their in-form goalkeeper, Benjamin Asare.

At 33, Asare’s story is one of persistence and late bloom. Just two seasons ago, he was guarding the posts for Accra Great Olympics, a side that slipped into relegation in 2023/24. Today, he stands tall as both Hearts of Oak’s undisputed number one and Ghana’s first-choice goalkeeper under Otto Addo.

His journey has been nothing short of remarkable. In the 2024/25 Ghana Premier League season, Asare recorded 16 clean sheets in 31 matches, powering Hearts to a top-four finish and earning admiration for his commanding presence, sharp reflexes, and leadership.

That form carried onto the international stage, where he made his Black Stars debut in March 2025 during the World Cup qualifiers. He announced himself with back-to-back clean sheets in a 5-0 win over Chad and a 3-0 victory over Madagascar, before turning in strong performances against Mali and Chad. Those displays helped Ghana secure 19 points from eight matches, tightening their grip on Group I.

Such consistency has seen him leapfrog Lawrence Ati-Zigi and Jojo Wollacott in the pecking order, cementing his place between the sticks for Ghana.

It is little wonder, then, that foreign clubs have started circling. But Hearts of Oak believe the $250,000 offer undervalues their prized asset—especially after tying him down with a contract extension until 2027 earlier this year.

The rejection sends a clear message: the Phobians are not ready to lose their talismanic goalkeeper cheaply. With both club and country relying heavily on Asare’s reliability, Hearts appear determined to keep their man unless a significantly higher offer arrives.