From Aging Stars to Billion-Euro Deals: The Turkish League Reinvents Itself
Once considered a destination for aging football stars seeking a final payday, the Turkish Süper Lig is now emerging as a serious contender in the global transfer market—competing head-to-head with top European leagues and even the rapidly growing Saudi Pro League.
The financial firepower of Istanbul's "big three"—Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, and Beşiktaş—has enabled them to attract world-class talents such as Victor Osimhen, Leroy Sané, and Jhon Durán.
Galatasaray, the reigning Turkish champions, made headlines by agreeing to pay €75 million to Napoli for Victor Osimhen, who spent last season on loan at the club. The deal not only shattered the Turkish transfer record but also became the fourth most expensive transfer globally in the current window.
Osimhen is set to earn a net annual salary of €21 million, while Sané, who joined from Bayern Munich, will pocket €12 million per year.
Jhon Durán, who joined Fenerbahçe on loan from Saudi side Al-Nassr, will earn close to €20 million annually, while his former Al-Nassr teammate Anderson Talisca, who moved to Fenerbahçe last winter, earns €15 million per year.
Record Spending in the Turkish Transfer Market
This summer, Galatasaray spent around €148 million, including big-name signings such as Osimhen (€75M), Wilfried Singo from Monaco (€30M), and free transfers like Sané and İlkay Gündoğan.
Fenerbahçe, the second-biggest spender, dished out €87 million, with their marquee signing being Kerem Aktürkoğlu from Benfica for €22.5 million. Other notable additions include Marco Asensio (Paris Saint-Germain – €7.5M), Ederson (Manchester City – €11M), and Nélson Semedo (Wolves).
Beşiktaş spent around €38 million, while Trabzonspor invested €29.7 million.
Altogether, Turkish clubs have spent €332.17 million this transfer window—up from €221.6 million last season and €177.9 million in the 2023–2024 season. The trend signals a dramatic increase in Turkish clubs' willingness to invest heavily in top-tier talent.
Big Spending Amid Deep Debt
Despite their lavish spending, Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, and Beşiktaş are burdened with significant debt. It is estimated that the combined debt of the “big four”—including Trabzonspor—exceeds €1 billion, with club revenues failing to cover their rising expenditures.
To help manage this, the clubs have received substantial government support in recent years. With backing from the Turkish Capital Markets Board, operating under the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, the clubs issued new shares to attract investors, while restructuring their debts through public bank loan agreements.
This financial backing has allowed Turkish clubs to continue their aggressive transfer strategies. And with the Turkish transfer window open until September 12, the business is far from over.
Both Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe are reportedly eyeing Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman, although UEFA registration deadlines for European competitions on September 2 have limited their ability to register new players.
Beşiktaş, having been eliminated from the UEFA Conference League qualifiers, faces no such restriction and is free to sign available players. The club had reportedly offered to double the wages of Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson in a failed bid and is actively looking to make 3–4 more signings, per new manager Sergen Yalçın. So far, Beşiktaş has brought in Orkun Kökçü, Tammy Abraham, and Wilfred Ndidi.
Aiming for European Glory
The ultimate goal behind this financial revolution is clear: to compete for European titles.
Galatasaray remains the only Turkish club to have lifted European silverware—winning the UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup in 1999–2000. Their best Champions League runs in the modern era include quarterfinal appearances in 2000–01 and 2012–13.
Fenerbahçe, currently competing in the Europa League, reached the Champions League quarterfinals in 2008 and the Europa League semifinals in 2013. Beşiktaş’s best European finishes were the UEFA Cup quarterfinals in 2003 and the Europa League quarters in 2017.
With these massive signings and ambitious spending, Turkish clubs are no longer just aiming to dominate domestically—they’re going all in for European success.
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