Should become a captain directly
© Imago
This article was first published on July 10 at 2:42 p.m. and was updated after the transfer was announced.
After four in the table last season, Besiktas JK is aiming for a change this summer and, in the course of this, screwed up his own transfer record again. Newcomer number five is Benfica Lisbon’s midfielder Orkun Kökçü.
The 24 -year -old Turkish international had already been the focus of the club from Istanbul during his time at Feyenoord, but decided to take the step to Portugal in 2023. Now it goes with a little delay with the black eagles. According to reports, it is a loan with a subsequent purchase obligation, which should be 25 million euros plus 5 million very simple bonuses. In order to convince Kökçü of a transfer, he was apparently offered the number 10 and the captain’s armband.
Kökçü replaces Abraham as Besiktas possible record access
Besiktas had never paid so much money for a new addition before. Up to this summer, the transfer record was 11 million euros for Moatasem al-Musrati, which had come from SC Braga last year. Finally, striker Tammy Abraham had already loan from AS Rome, who would have been the most expensive access if the obligation to buy. For the Englishman, a total of 17 million euros are due with a rental fee, obligation to buy and bonuses – almost twice for Kökçü. Abraham follows Ciro Immobile (switches to Bologna), whose contract was terminated. Besiktas thus saved the Italian’s millions, which it directly reinvested.
The native Dutch, who enjoyed his football training at Feyenoord, is moving to Turkey for the first time in his career. Already two years ago, when Benfica was awarded the contract for 30 million euros, Besiktas was considered a prospect. Kökçü’s father finally confirmed (quoted via “Record”): “When my son played for Feyenoord, we met with the Besiktas trainer. The then club director came to us, we spoke and agreed. But the people responsible for the association who were responsible for the money did not want to say that they had found someone better than my son.”
Now it works in the second attempt to switch to the Süper Lig. With a market value of 30 million euros, Kökçü is the most divided Turk behind Kenan Yıldız (20) and Arda Güler (20). In addition to the record as the most expensive purchase, he would also set up the best brand as the most valuable new addition to Besiktas in front of Miralem Pjanić (2021 with 20 million market value from FC Barcelona).