Fenerbahçe has taken the lead over Galatasaray in the race to sign Can Uzun by submitting a €45 million offer. According to a report by Fotomac, chairman Aziz Yıldırım instructed executives Cihan Kamer and Oğuz Çetin to spare no effort in securing the transfer.
Galatasaray had been pursuing the 20-year-old German-Turkish player for a long time, making bids of up to €35 million for the Eintracht Frankfurt attacker. Failing to convince the German club, the yellow-reds were forced to abandon the move. This development is a blow for Galatasaray, who currently lead the Süper Lig with 7 points from 3 games, a position you can see on our standings page. The team has scored 9 goals while conceding 4 this season.
Why did Fenerbahçe act so aggressively?
There are two main reasons behind Fenerbahçe's aggressive move. The first is to steal the 'transfer of the year' from their arch-rivals. The second is to strengthen the squad with a Turkish star due to the 10+4 foreign player rule. Can Uzun recorded 10 goals and 6 assists in 28 appearances for Frankfurt last season. This campaign, he has started both of his two matches, scoring 2 goals and providing 3 assists.
Aziz Yıldırım gave the green light to the executives, saying, "Hiçbir fedakarlıktan kaçınmayın ve gereğini yaptın" (Do not avoid any sacrifice and do what is necessary). Following this, Fenerbahçe raised their initial €40 million bid for Uzun to €45 million. Frankfurt had signed the player from Nürnberg for €13 million in the 2024 summer transfer window.
Why was Can Uzun important for Galatasaray?
Galatasaray had been closely tracking the young talent for an extended period. Primarily an attacking midfielder who can also operate as a centre-forward or left winger, Uzun was a key target for the club's search for creative midfield reinforcement. The team's recent WWD form and 9 goals in three league games demonstrate their offensive potential, which they hoped to further boost with Uzun. However, they could not meet Frankfurt's demands.
Where will the player fit into the Fenerbahçe squad?
Can Uzun's primary position is as a number 10. He is a versatile profile who can also play as a forward or central striker. These qualities will add flexibility to Fenerbahçe's squad structure, details of which can be found on our squad page. Considering the foreign player rule, Uzun, who also holds a Turkish passport, will provide a tactical advantage for the yellow-dark blues.
Galatasaray now turns its attention to its next fixture against Rizespor at home on 6 December 2026, a match listed on our fixtures page. The opponent currently sits 7th in the table. Can Uzun's transfer to Fenerbahçe awaits official confirmation.
