However, Accra Hearts of Oak supporters, legends, and previous management members are yet to accept that Mohammed Alhassan, their former deputy captain, is now a porcupine. Mohammed Alhassan has yet to kick a ball for Asante Kotoko.
Hearts of Oak supporters have criticised their board members for cancelling the contract of their most seasoned defender over trivial matters and allowed him to sign with Kotoko as being highly incompetent.
Mohammed Alhassan signed a one-and-a-half-year contract with Asante Kotoko as a free agent after Slavko Matic, the coach of Hearts, deemed him surplus to requirements.
His transfer has now joined the tall list of controversial transfers that have happened between the two most successful clubs in the history of Ghana football.
More than 20 players have crossed carpets between Accra Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko but not all the transfers generated controversies as some made their move at the twilight of their careers.
In this episode of the GhanaWeb feature, we bring you a list of five most controversial transfers between Accra Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko including Mohammed Alhassan.
Charles Taylor
Charles Asampong Taylor made the most controversial transfer move in the history of Ghana football in the 21st century.
Charles Taylor in 2003, after winning the Champions League, Super Cup, FA Cup, and Ghana Premier League (3 times) made his dream move by joining his beloved Asante Kotoko.
The move was so controversial that he was cursed by many Hearts of Oak fans and despite returning to the club in 2006, many Phobians still consider him to be a traitor.
Ollenu Ashitey
The striker is on the tall list of players who also joined Asante Kotoko directly from Accra Hearts of Oak.
The Techiman Eleven Wonders marksman joined Asante Kotoko in 2018 after spending a year with Accra Hearts of Oak.
Ollenu Ashitey was a Porcupine when Kotoko’s team bus run into a stationary vehicle on the Accra-Kumasi highway while returning to Kumasi after a Ghana Premier League game.
Osei Kofi is regarded as one of the country’s best footballers and his record bears witness to that.
Osei Kofi is remembered for his role in Ghana’s AFCON success but his exploits at club level also contributed to his legendary status.
He became one of the early players who moved between the sworn rivals when he joined Kotoko from Hearts of Oak.
Osei Kofi made his name at Kotoko as a diminutive and nimble-footed winger with goals but he still credits Hearts for giving him the platform to showcase his talent.
Opoku Afriyie
Nicknamed Bayie, the former Black Stars striker left Asante Kotoko after being labelled an old man to join rivals Accra Hearts of Oak in the 1982 season.
According to reports, Opoku Afriyie was threatened not to join Accra Hearts of Oak but he was eager to prove a point so he left.
Asante Kotoko fans felt his absence when he led Accra Hearts of Oak to beat Asante Kotoko at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
He retired at Accra Hearts of Oak but came back to work as the team manager of Asante Kotoko in 2003.