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DW
2 days ago
- Business
- DW
Is Turkey becoming football's next Saudi Arabia? – DW – 08/11/2025
The high prices Turkey's top football clubs have been paying on the transfer market has some comparing it to Saudi Arabia. But what's behind this spending spree, and is it sustainable? Once seen as a place to land for an aging star on the downside of his career, Turkey's Super Lig is emerging as a serious player in the transfer market – even rivaling Saudi Arabia, a football financial powerhouse in recent years. The sums being offered by Istanbul's "big three" — Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, and Besiktas — are allowing them to attract international stars such as Victor Osimhen, Leroy Sane, and Jhon Duran. Super Lig champions Galatasaray, who had Osimhen on loan last season, have now agreed to pay Napoli €75 million ($87 million) for the Nigerian striker's permanent transfer. This is not only by far the most expensive signing in Turkish football history, but also the third-most expensive transfer of the current transfer window globally. Galatasaray are to pay Osimhen a net annual salary of €21 million, while German international Sane, recently signed from Bayern Munich, is to earn €12 million per year. Fenerbahce's new striker, Jhon Duran, on loan from Saudi club Al-Nassr, will reportedly earn close to €20 million net annually. His former teammate Anderson Talisca, who joined Fenerbahce from Al-Nassr in January, is said to be earning €15 million per year. But Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, and Besiktas are splashing out on record-breaking signings despite being burdened by high debt – and being located in a country that's been struggling economically. The combined debt of the trio and Trabzonspor — widely seen as Turkey's fourth biggest club — is thought to exceed €1 billion, as their revenues have long fallen short of covering their expenditures. Some believe that the government tacitly supports the increased spending, as high-profile signings in this football-crazy country serve to deflect attention away from problems like high inflation and unemployment. "Turning a blind eye to the transfer spectacle can be interpreted as part of an effort to distract the masses during an economic crisis, to defuse public anger, and to keep clubs — and their fan bases — under control," sports columnist Onur Ozgen told DW. "We are living through a local version of 'panem et circenses', or bread and circuses politics," added Ozgen, who writes for BirGun, one of the few remaining opposition dailies in print in Turkey. Ozgen is by no means alone in this assessment. "Football dominates the agenda of poor communities," football economist Tugrul Aksar told DW. "People who can't even afford to bring bread home are watching transfer news all day long," explained the founder of Turkey's only website dedicated to reporting on the business side of football. As a result, most fans are focused the big-name signings, not on the financial burden associated with them. "There's fierce competition between us and our archrival Fenerbahce in the Turkish league. We must maintain our superiority at all costs — in fact, we need to widen the gap," Mehmet, a Galatasaray fan told DW. "Big signings also give us a psychological edge over our rivals." Over 90% of Turkish football fans support one of the big three, giving them enormous political clout. Their vast fan bases represent a powerful "vote bank" often courted by governments, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party, the AKP. In recent years, the three clubs have received substantial state support in efforts to boost their revenues. Backed by approval by the Capital Markets Board of Turkey — which operates under the Ministry of Treasury and Finance — they have repeatedly issued new shares to raise capital from investors. Meanwhile, their debts have been restructured through loan agreements with public banks. "Big clubs in Turkey have long operated with close ties to the state," Ahmet Talimciler, professor of sociology at Bakircay University in Izmir told DW. "Because their debts are periodically written off or forgiven, they continue to make expensive signings without hesitation." In 2022 the government introduced a law that it said was meant to prevent reckless borrowing by clubs. This law provides for serious sanctions, including clauses that allow prison sentences for officials who drive their clubs into debt. However, the law, which permits clubs to borrow only up to 10% of their previous year's gross revenue, has never been enforced. Many believe the ruling party uses this law as a stick against football clubs and fan groups to control them. In Turkey's past, fan groups frequently took to the streets during protests, particularly the 2013 Gezi demonstrations against Erdogan's government. Until recently, stadiums were among the few places where fans could openly express dissent. However, no chants of dissent have been heard in stadiums since the March arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, the presidential candidate of the main opposition CHP party. Fan groups have also been notably absent from the ongoing street protests sparked by Imamoglu's arrest. According to CHP lawmaker Mustafa Adiguzel, this is no accident. He told DW that the ruling AKP seems to have made a deal with the big three, in which they agree to keep their fans groups in line in exchange for the government looking the other way on spending on players. "The government, which uses the auditing of clubs as a reward-and-punishment mechanism, is effectively assigning club management the task of controlling the stands," Adiguzel told DW. According to Ozgen, the government's "stick" not only keeps club executives in line but also pushes fans into self-censorship. He pointed to the mandatory electronic ticketing system Passolig and stadium cameras as tools used to create "politics-free stands." Economist Aksar believes that if the law were applied, many club officials would face legal action, but excessive borrowing is allowed deliberately. "Big clubs are kept indebted to ensure their compliance with the government," he said. The Turkish Ministry of Sports has not yet responded to a DW query on how the clubs have been able to continue borrowing despite the law meant to curb the practice. Ozgen sees the big three as chasing a fantasy of becoming "the Saudi Arabia of Europe," but argues that this is simply unsustainable in the long term. "There's no oil revenue, only debt and bloated wage bills. The gap between income and spending is massive," he said. "Broadcasting revenues are shrinking in real terms, matchday and merchandising income is limited. Clubs spend in dollars or euros but earn in Turkish lira, losing ground with every transfer window." He also points to a key difference between Saudi Arabia and the big three. "Saudi Arabia follows a state-funded strategy," he said. "Turkish clubs have close ties with political power, but they don't have the same financial resources."
Daily Mail
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Jose Mourinho and £65m Jhon Duran fall out on FIRST DAY working together as 'disrespectful' behaviour sparks 'consequences' threat - and manager wants an ex-Man United star out
The relationship between Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho and new recruit Jhon Duran has got off to a rocky start. Mourinho, who is headed into his second season with the Istanbul giants, was angered by Duran's absence as his side began their preparations for the campaign in Portugal. The former Chelsea and Manchester United boss labelled the Colombian's actions 'disrespectful' and suggested that he will face consequences for his truancy. 'It's disrespectful. There are clear rules here, and anyone who doesn't follow them will face consequences,' the Portuguese told reporters. 'We'll talk to him when he shows up, if he does.' The 21-year-old moved to the Turkish side on a season-long loan this summer just six months after joining Al-Nassr from Aston Villa in a deal worth £71million. Sofyan Amrabat could soon be on his way out of the club after failing to impress the Portuguese While in the Saudi Pro League, he netted 12 goals in 18 matches, helping Al-Nassr finish third in the standings. His departure from the Midlands in January came amid reports that he had a testing relationship with Villa boss Unai Emery. Spanish outlet Marca claim that Duran is expected to be in Portugal for training in the next few days. Elsewhere, Mourinho's early-season fury has reportedly been set upon former United midfielder Sofyan Amrabat. According to Turkish outlet Yenicag, Mourinho was not impressed by Amrabat's performance in a recent friendly and wants him cut from the team.
New York Times
11-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
The strange career path of Jhon Duran, aged 21 and a half
A player who boasts a CV including the United States, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and a couple of years in the Premier League is usually a veteran enjoying a tranquil stroll towards the end of his career. Jhon Duran has done all of this at the age of 21. Duran's latest move — a season-long loan at Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce — is the latest instalment in an increasingly peculiar career. In some ways, the Colombian's path mirrors a career in reverse, nomadic and strange in nature as he again steps outside Europe's most competitive leagues. Advertisement Fenerbahce is Duran's fourth club in two and a half years and his third in 10 months. It was only last October that Duran was signing a new five-and-a-half-year contract, two clubs ago, at Aston Villa. As he did in January when he moved to Al Nassr in an agreement worth €77million, Duran smiled for photos on a private plane. His long-term representatives, including agent Jonathan Herrera, are active social media presences and were quick to post that they had arrived at Istanbul airport. They were, however, helped by a third party during negotiations as external agency, SEG, helped to broker the deal. Another third party and representative, Will Salthouse of Unique Sports Group, facilitated Duran's move from Villa to Al Nassr. Duran's career, still in its nascent stages, is already full of intrigue. He is a complex character, with his transfers following a similar theme. A player who Villa felt, and still feel, could be the world's best striker, remains an enigma. 📸 Jhon Duran — Fenerbahçe SK (@Fenerbahce) July 8, 2025 It was only this time last season when Villa fought off interest in Duran. They looked past his social media misdemeanours, be it deleting all Villa-related posts or his Irons-shaped gesture on an Instagram live after West Ham United had a bid dismissed, and showered him with affection. Unai Emery does not tend to indulge players but realising Duran's potential, he and his close aides held regular talks with him, insisting a marked improved salary would be on the way and gave him the No 9 shirt at the start of the 2024-25 campaign. Provided his mind was attuned, they hoped he would follow a steady path of progression, culminating in the forward either replacing Ollie Watkins or being sold for £100m later down the line. 'He's a jewel,' said one of Emery's closest aides at the time. 'If there is a club that really thinks Duran can become one of the top strikers in the world, then that one club is Villa and that one manager is Unai Emery,' Monchi, Villa's president of football operations, added. Villa had been immensely proud of signing Duran in January 2023. Previous recruitment staff, Rob Mackenzie and Johan Lange — now at Tottenham Hotspur — had laid the groundwork and presented a case to Emery, who was not aware of him and initially preferred a more proven striker to replace the outgoing Danny Ings. Advertisement Ultimately, Emery was convinced by Villa's analysis, who explained that Duran had experienced a newfound upturn in form towards the end of the MLS season with Chicago Fire. They fought off interest from Atletico Madrid and Benfica to persuade Duran, hosting him, his agents and father Regino in a boardroom at Villa Park. The club put on a three-course meal and created an emotional video of Duran, making his father cry. Team-mates and staff were often blown away by Duran's ability in training and what he could produce, to the extent that his thunderous winner against Everton in September 2024 was not seen as a surprise. What. A. Strike. 🤤 Jhon Duran's long-range effort against Everton has won September's Guinness Goal of the Month award! #PLAwards | @AVFCOfficial — Premier League (@premierleague) October 11, 2024 Duran's irritation with the lack of game time regularly came to the surface, especially in his final six months in the Midlands. He scored 12 goals across all competitions, finding the net, on average, every 87 minutes. Yet irrespective of his impact, usually off the bench and occasionally displacing Watkins in the starting XI, the 21-year-old's overall game was rough around the edges and, in the mind of many, caused structural issues to Emery's side, even if he was far and away Villa's most ruthless finisher. Observers noted it would be difficult to anticipate how effective Villa's game plans would be when Duran played, as he would not always follow instructions, in and out of possession, and struggled to link play when coming deeper. This was why Emery preached for patience — Duran was not at the level to be relied upon each week. Development was hindered by Villa's exasperation over Duran's off-field misdemeanours, considering they had worked hard to cut out previous issues and regarded new errors as easily avoidable. Advertisement There were instances of him arriving late and disturbing team meetings. There would be other occasions when Duran would tell club doctors he was injured, even if this was not evidenced on later scans. His attitude had been noted by multiple sources, who said it could stray close to breaching Villa's disciplinary standards. The Athletic has approached Duran's representatives for comment. 'He can be one of the best strikers in the world,' goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez told the BBC. 'But he needs to keep his feet on the ground and work hard.' Villa sources stated that if Duran had wanted to stay in January, they would have been more determined to keep him. The club's PSR situation called for either Duran or Watkins to be sold that month and Villa were not totally opposed to the idea of the latter going, as it would likely mean the Colombia international would relish the sense of responsibility of being the main striker and, in turn, potentially solving problems with behaviour. But Duran made it clear he wanted to move to Saudi Arabia. He is a product of his background, growing up in the tough neighbourhood of Zaragoza, a Colombian municipality of Antioquia, before moving a short distance to the city of Medellin. Duran lived in a poor area, with regular heavy rainfall, mountainous terrain and starved of employment opportunities. He, his siblings and parents endured challenges and, unsurprisingly, often required guidance. He used to skip school to listen to music and his grandad would take him to training at Envigado. Therefore, understanding Duran's decisions does require context. Money, unashamedly, has always been a driving force in his transfer moves, having been without it for much of his childhood. Villa grew tired of Duran's recurring desire to leave. They accepted they could not get through to him, even if he was playing well on the pitch. This feeling strengthened with multiple staff believing that his level was not sustainable, due to significant overperformance in his expected goal rate (xG). There was a fear that, the more Duran played, the less money Villa could fetch. Truthfully, going to the Middle East suited Villa. They received a substantial fee and playing in one of football's lesser-viewed and perceived leagues came with caveats. Essentially, fewer critics would regard Villa as having egg on their face should he prove a hit at Al Nassr. Initially, Duran appeared to prolong excitement after moving to Saudi Arabia. Photos peppered his and his agents' social media, mostly of which were of Duran and Cristiano Ronaldo together. It is what makes the situation, six months on, so intriguing. It is not lost on Villa observers that shortly after Ronaldo signed a new contract at Al Nassr, Duran had negotiated a temporary move elsewhere. Duran started as he had left Villa, scoring goals but invariably tinged with a sense of drama. He scored twice in his Saudi Pro League debut against Al Fayha, less than a week after reports emerged of him living in the neighbouring country of Bahrain and taking an 80-minute flight to training every day, as opposed to the capital city of Riyadh. Two reasons were given: Duran did not want to live there and, similarly, was not allowed to live alongside his girlfriend as Islamic law discourages unmarried couples from living together. Advertisement Al Nassr publicly banished those claims, posting on X that the report was 'obnoxiously funny fake news' and insisted Duran 'loves Riyadh and his house is near the club and the stadium'. Villa staff followed Duran with keen interest. Dressing-room observers had long insisted that his Saudi adventure would not last long, despite a long-term contract. A unique family situation suggested there would be complexities ahead and, for his extroverted nature on the pitch, Duran was a player who needed to be loved and reminded of keeping his feet on the ground. So earning more than €10m a year net and living in a different, less intense footballing environment posed a challenge. Duran scored 12 goals in 18 appearances before moving to Fenerbahce at the start of July, six months into a five-year contract signed at Al Nassr. Fenerbahce will hope that Duran will prove the silver bullet in breaking more than a decade without winning the Super Lig and make an comparable impact to that of Victor Osimhen on loan to fierce rivals Galatasaray last season. Club president Ali Koc is wildly unpopular and the Mourinho experiment has, so far, not worked. How Duran copes under the inevitable expectation and scrutiny he will face will determine how his season-long loan unfolds. Frankly, what happens next is anyone's guess and is why Duran remains a fascinating, profoundly entertaining character. Villa supporters gave him the moniker 'Captain Chaos' for his playing style and directness on the pitch, and in light of a CV that spans five countries in four years, that nickname is proving an apt career description.
Qatar Tribune
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Jhon Duran joins Fenerbahce on loan from Al Nassr
Agencies Colombia striker Jhon Duran has joined Fenerbahce on a year-long loan - six months after moving from Aston Villa to Al Nassr in a £71 million deal, reports The 21-year-old scored 12 goals in 29 games for Villa last season, then after joining Al Nassr in January he found the net 12 times in 18 matches for the Saudi Arabian side. 'Our club has reached an agreement with both the club and the player for Jhon Duran to join our squad on a one-year loan,' said Fenerbahce in a statement. 'We wish our player a season full of success under our striped jersey.' Duran, who has three goals in 17 internationals for Colombia, joined Villa from Chicago Fire for £18m in January 2023. He scored 20 goals in 78 games for the club, but 61 of those appearances came from the bench, with Duran unable to regularly displace England striker Ollie Watkins from the starting line-up. He helped Al Nassr finish third in the Saudi Pro League last season. While he is leaving, Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo is staying after signing a two-year contract with the club last month. Fenerbahce, who are managed by Jose Mourinho, finished second in the Turkish league last season.
The Independent
07-07-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Former Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran joins new club after just six months in Saudi Arabia
Former Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran has agreed a loan move to Fenerbahce just six months after joining Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. Duran, who has scored three goals in 17 appearances for the Columbian national side, headed to Saudi Arabia in a deal worth £71m in January, but will relocate again to Istanbul to link up with Jose Mourinho 's side. In a statement, the Turkish Superlig club said: "Our club has reached an agreement with both the club and the player for Jhon Duran to join our squad on a one-year loan. "We wish our player a season full of success under our striped jersey." Duran joined Villa from Chicago Fire in 2023 and scored 20 goals in 78 games, but could not dislodge England's Ollie Watkins as Unai Emery's first-choice option up front. A further 12 goals in just 18 games for Al-Nassr helped the club to a third place finish in the Saudi Pro League last season. Cristiano Ronaldo put pen to paper on a new two-year deal with the club last month, with former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane and ex-Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte among the other foreign players currently in their squad. Fenerbahce finished second behind rivals Galatasaray in Mourinho's first season in charge.
