Galatasaray’s attack on Europe
A narrow line between vision and madness
18.09.2025 – 1:22 p.m.Reading time: 3 min.
Top -class transfers, ambitious goals and a billion dollar project in the back. But Galatasaray’s dream already has a high risk against Frankfurt.
Leroy Sané made no secret of why he left FC Bayern in the direction of Galatasaray Istanbul: “I want to achieve a lot with the club,” said the German international after his change. He has justified his expectations at least shortly after the start of the season: the Turkish champion is currently in the Süper Lig at the top of the table, “Gala” won all five previous games.
However, it will be serious for the first time on Thursday: For Galatasaray, not only the new Champions League season against Eintracht Frankfurt begins in Deutsche Bank Park, but also the first endurance test of a gigantic project to bring the continental breakthrough. And that with a force that has not been seen from the Süper Lig for a long time.
The club from Istanbul has changed this summer: Leroy Sané, İlkay Gündoğan, Victor Osimhen and Ismail Jakobs are among the newcomers with which Galatasaray wants to create a new era. The association invested in new dimensions – for transfers as well as with salaries. For comparison: Ex-Bayern star Sané switched to “Gala” free of charge and, according to club details, collected nine million euros net per season-plus a loyalty bonus of three million euros net and performance-related bonuses that could increase his salary to up to 15 million euros.
Only shortly afterwards followed with Victor Osimhen the next bang: the Nigerian came from SSC Naples for 75 million euros – a record in the club’s history. According to the information, he even receives 84 million euros for his four -year contract by 2029. Gündoğan earns 4.5 million euros a year.
But while the names sound convincing, the numbers raise questions. Financially, Galatasaray balances on a narrow line between vision and madness. The majority of the investments are covered by future income – income that does not yet exist.
According to the research of “Der Spiegel” and “Transfermarkt.de”, a significant part of the financial scope is based on advances and optimistic calculations. So the club is planning with income that should only be realized in the future – above all through the sale of the traditional training area in the Istanbul district of Florya, as the “Sport Bild” reports.
The so-called “Florya project” could bring in the club up to 600 million euros. According to its own information, Galatasaray has plots of around 80 hectares, the Turkish club is currently carrying out tenders to sell them. The first sums of 50 million euros have already flowed.