Fenerbahçe Holds Signing Ceremony for New Transfers and Contract Extensions

Fenerbahçe organized a signing ceremony for their new transfers Levent Mercan, Çağlar Söyüncü, Oğuz Aydın, Cenk Tosun, Allan Saint-Maximin, and for the players who extended their contracts, Mert Hakan Yandaş and Ertuğrul Çetin

The ceremony was held at the 1907 Tribune of Ülker Stadium Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu Sports Complex. Sporting Director Mario Branco also attended the ceremony. When Oğuz Aydın was asked, “Did Galatasaray contact you after you arrived in Istanbul?” the Portuguese sports director responded, “Oğuz wanted to come to us from the beginning, and we chose him. We completed this transfer within 24 hours of our meeting. I don’t know who called him or which agent contacted him.”

Sporting Director Mario Branco made the following statements:

“TOMORROW IS A HISTORIC DAY FOR FENERBAHÇE”

“First of all, I want to apologize on behalf of our president and management. They are currently in Ankara. After our final preparatory match, we will officially start our matches. Before doing that, we wanted to introduce our new transfers to you. Tomorrow is July 19, a very important date for Fenerbahçe. We are also very focused on the Lugano match. Today, for the first time before the new season, we will play in front of our fans.”

“WE NEED TO ADAPT TO THESE RULES”

“I don’t want to comment too much on the new TFF president. Of course, we congratulate the new president. I can speak about the foreign player limit. I have been here for three seasons. In my first season, there were 14 foreign players and one under-21 foreign player. Last season, it was 14+1. This season, the limit is 12 foreign players. We need to adapt to these rules.”

“WE HAVE COMPLETED 85% OF THE TRANSFER”

“If I followed social media, I would be sitting at home right now, not here. Our fans are passionate, but I need to be more rational. I think we have completed 85% of our transfers. I understand the fans; I would also want the transfers to be finished by now if I were in their place. There is a transfer window open until September 15. Of course, I can say that I am satisfied with the current progress. We have kept many of the players who were in the team last year. We are happy that we could keep the core squad.”

“I TOLD MAXIMIN THAT WE WILL BUILD A TEAM THAT CREATES PRESSURE TO WIN”

“If you work for Fenerbahçe, it is not very difficult to convince players. I told Maximin that we would build a team that creates significant pressure to win matches. I am happy and proud that he is here.”

“WE MAY ALSO MAKE OPPORTUNITY TRANSFERS”

“Our intention is to bring the right players in the best way. This is our first goal. We are a big club and know very well what we want. After making the transfers we want, we also aim to make opportunity transfers if they come our way.”

“WE DO NOT WANT TO LOSE FERDİ KADIOĞLU”

“There is interest in Fenerbahçe players in the transfer market. The instruction we received from our management is to keep our best players. Ferdi is one of the best players on this team, and we do not want to lose him. But there is no doubt that some of our players will leave the team. Due to the foreign player rule, we may part ways with some players, but we do not want to part ways with key and fundamental players.”

“I DON’T KNOW WHO CALLED OĞUZ”

“Oğuz wanted to come to us from the beginning, and we chose him. We completed this transfer within 24 hours of our meeting. I don’t know who called him or which agent contacted him. The important thing is that he chose us. Other matters are not issues I want to be involved in.”

MERT HAKAN YANDAŞ: “I FEEL VERY LUCKY”

“After deciding to continue my contract, our conversation lasted one minute. I feel very lucky. We want to achieve the championships we aim for together. We are doing everything for this. I will continue to be useful to my team both on and off the field.”

ALLAN SAINT MAXIMIN: “IT WAS NOT IN MY PLANS TO COME HERE UNTIL MARIO CALLED”

“I will be honest with you. Honestly, coming here was not in my plans until Mario called. After talking with him, my ideas became clear. Mario and Mourinho put everything into making me come here. This transfer would not have been possible without Mario Branco.”

“The reason I came here is to contribute to Fenerbahçe on the way to the championship. It will also be my first championship in my career. I know my own quality and what I can do. Football is not just about what happens on the field; off-field matters are also very important. If a team has worked hard to bring you here, you need to repay that effort.”

CENK TOSUN: “I DON’T SEE MYSELF AS THE 3RD STRIKER”

“I want to thank Mario Branco, Ali Koç, and Acun brother for their efforts in this transfer. I had a good connection with my foreign teammates in the team. Therefore, I did not go through an adaptation process. I am very happy to be part of such a big community like Fenerbahçe. No one should doubt that I will give my best on the field.”

“Cenk, under those conditions, I did not accept the offer from Fenerbahçe, but under the current conditions, it was more appropriate for me to accept the offer. After talking to the coach for an hour, I believed in his project and signed.”

“I don’t see myself as the 3rd striker. All the players here are very valuable. I came here to compete. I trust in my abilities. In the end, whoever benefits Fenerbahçe the most will play. And I also want to compete and score as many goals as I can.”

ÇAĞLAR SÖYÜNCÜ: “I NEVER FELT LIKE A LOAN PLAYER”

“I never felt like a loan player here. I want to thank our president, Acun brother, and Mario for my transfer. We didn’t talk much about the transfer, but it took a bit longer at the club level. I am very happy to be here.”

LEVENT MERCAN: “THE POSITION WHERE I FEEL THE BEST IS LEFT BACK”

“I have been very happy here since day one. I did not have any adaptation problems. All my teammates have supported me since day one. I am very happy to be part of this great community. I hope we all have a very good season.”

“It is not always possible to work with world-class coaches. It is, of course, a nice thing for me. I think I performed well at left back in the last two years. It is good to play in different positions. The position where I feel best is left back.”

OĞUZ AYDIN: “MARIO MANAGED THE TRANSFER PROCESS VERY WELL”

“I am very happy to be part of such a big community. I also want to thank Mario; he managed the transfer process very well. I want to meet our fans as soon as possible.”

ERTUĞRUL ÇETİN: “IT IS A DAY FULL OF PRIDE FOR ME”

“Today is a day full of pride for me and my family. Thank you for the trust placed in me. I hope from now on I will work harder and live up to this trust.”