Beşiktaş has announced the arrival of Orkun Kökçü. The former Feyenoord midfielder already posed in the shirt of the Black Eagles during his private jet flight to Istanbul.
Embed from Getty Images
That Orkun Kökçü would leave Benfica became more evident with each passing day over the last week, and now the transfer appears to be just hours away from official confirmation.
While neither Benfica nor Beşiktaş have yet issued a formal press release, the Turkish giants have already published a telling photograph on their official channels: Kökçü, dressed in the Beşiktaş shirt, sitting alongside club board member Serdal Adalı aboard a private jet bound for Istanbul. This kind of visual confirmation, especially shared directly by the club, leaves little room for doubt the deal is done in all but name.
The 24-year-old midfielder joined Benfica in the summer of 2023 after an impressive spell at Feyenoord, where he captained the Dutch side to an Eredivisie title and was widely regarded as one of the most promising midfielders in Europe. His move to Portugal, valued at around €25 million, made him one of the most expensive signings in Benfica’s history and came with high expectations. The Lisbon club believed they had secured a future cornerstone of their midfield a creative and intelligent playmaker capable of dictating the tempo and adding goal contributions from deeper positions.
However, Kökçü’s time in Portugal proved more turbulent than expected. Although he showed flashes of his undeniable quality, including his vision, long-range passing, and leadership on the pitch, he never truly established himself as an indispensable player under head coach Roger Schmidt. Tensions began to surface as early as mid-season, with reports of disagreements between the player and the coaching staff. At one point, Kökçü was publicly critical of his role and lack of influence on the squad comments that did not sit well with the German manager or the club hierarchy.
Benfica found themselves in a delicate position: they had invested heavily in the player, but his performances coupled with internal friction were not living up to the expectations. That’s when Turkish interest began to emerge. With Beşiktaş preparing for a significant rebuild after a disappointing domestic campaign, the club saw an opportunity to bring in a player who not only had strong ties to Turkish football but was also eager for a fresh start.
According to reports in Portuguese media, the deal between Benfica and Beşiktaş is structured as a loan with a mandatory purchase clause, valued at €25 million, plus €5 million in potential bonuses. This type of arrangement allows Beşiktaş to manage financial fair play obligations while securing a player they believe can be central to their future. The move is also a symbolic one: a Turkish international returning to one of the country’s most storied clubs after a mixed spell abroad a homecoming of sorts that could reignite his career.
For Kökçü, the move represents more than just a change of club. It’s a chance to reboot his trajectory, rediscover the form that made him such a coveted talent at Feyenoord, and step into a leadership role in a team that will likely be built around him. Beşiktaş fans, known for their passion and loyalty, are already welcoming him with open arms, and expectations will be high for him to deliver from day one.
Meanwhile, the ripple effects of the deal reach back to the Netherlands and not in a positive way. Feyenoord, the club that nurtured Kökçü through its youth system and into stardom, had inserted a 25% sell-on clause into the original deal with Benfica. However, that clause applies only to profit made by the Portuguese club on any future sale. Since Benfica are now selling the midfielder for approximately the same amount they paid, Feyenoord stands to gain little, if anything, from this transaction. Only if the €5 million in bonuses are fully triggered will the Dutch side receive a minor payout a far cry from the potential windfall they had hoped for if Kökçü had been sold for a significantly higher fee.
This outcome is a reminder of how transfer clauses, while strategically smart at the time, can end up producing little return depending on how a player's career unfolds. For Feyenoord, it’s a bittersweet situation: pride in having developed a player who continues to attract attention on the international stage, but disappointment in missing out on a financial reward that could have been reinvested in their squad.
For Benfica, the decision to part ways with Kökçü just one year after his arrival may be viewed as an admission of misjudgment, both in terms of tactical fit and player management. Still, recouping the bulk of their initial investment and potentially freeing up salary space could be seen as a necessary step toward rebalancing the squad.
As for Beşiktaş, this could be one of their most high-profile signings in recent years. The club is clearly aiming to reassert itself in Turkish football after losing ground to rivals like Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe. Bringing in a player with Kökçü’s international pedigree sends a clear message of ambition.
What remains now is the official confirmation expected imminently and the start of a new chapter for Orkun Kökçü in the black-and-white stripes of Beşiktaş.
Updated: 04:10, 12 Jul 2025
