Orkun Kökçü has got his transfer. The 22-year-old Turkish international from Haarlem will definitely exchange Feyenoord for the Portuguese champion Benfica. The Rotterdammers receive 25 million euros, an amount that can increase by 5 million euros due to bonuses.
Kökçü signs a five-year contract in Portugal, where he is reunited with Norwegian Fredrik Aursnes, who left Feyenoord for Benfica last year. Kökçü already indicated last week that he would leave Feyenoord if a great club from abroad reports for him and he also became enthusiastic about Benfica through talks with Aursnes.
With the fixed transfer fee of 25 million euros, Kökçü is now Feyenoord’s record sale together with Luis Sinisterra. Sinisterra left for Leeds United for the same amount last season. There is an escape clause in Kökçü’s Benfica contract of 150 million euros. The resale percentage depends on the amount Benfica will sell Kökçü for in the future.
The Turkish captain of Feyenoord landed at Lisbon airport last night and smoothed out the last wrinkles today, including the mandatory medical examination. With his transfer to the club of former PSV coach Roger Schmidt, Kökçü is following in the footsteps of, among others, Pierre van Hooijdonk and Gaston Taument, former Feyenoord players who also once played for Benfica.
Kökcü, born in Haarlem, made the switch in 2014 from the youth academy of FC Groningen to that of Feyenoord. He made his debut with the team from Rotterdam in 2018. Last season, Kökcü became captain of Feyenoord, winning the first national title since 2017. Kökcü played 173 games for the club from Rotterdam and scored 32 times.
Next week, Kökçü will report to the national team of Turkey, which will play against Latvia and Wales in the European Championship qualification.
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