Some of football’s biggest stars have been landing in Turkey this summer, greeted by swarms of fans, chanting, and lighting flares, ready to sign for the Turkish Süper Lig’s most prestigious clubs. Trabzonspor pulled off the signing of superstar winger Mohamed Salah after he left Liverpool at the end of his contract. Beşiktaş have signed Leandro Trossard and Dusan Vlahovic. Fenerbahçe have signed Romelu Lukaku, Nathan Ake, and many more. Galatasaray are yet to kick into gear, but are currently trying to strike deals with Arsenal for both Ethan Nwaneri and Gabriel Martinelli.
So, why are some of Europe’s most elite players choosing Turkey and the Süper Lig?
Over the last few decades, there have been football leagues around the world that have used financial incentives to secure world-class talent and compete with Europe’s top divisions. In the 2000’s and early 2010’s we had Russia and China; more recently, we have had Saudi Arabia, and now Turkey are taking a similar approach. However, Turkish football has more to offer than just money.
The Süper Lig has clubs with rich European history that still compete in Europe’s most prestigious competitions (Champions League and Europa League). The league is one of the most competitive on the continent that sits outside of Europe’s “Top 5”. Turkish football culture is up there with the best in the world. The fans live and breathe their football clubs like no other. They treat their marquee players like rockstars from the moment they land, as we have seen this summer.
It’s hard for players not to fall in love with the culture they are surrounded by in Turkey. It’s no coincidence we’ve seen some of the game’s biggest icons, such as Drogba, Sneijder, Van Persie, and Roberto Carlos, all spend time in the Süper Lig.
The money factor.
The financial packages being offered to players by Süper Lig clubs are impressive, but not so extreme that Europe’s footballing giants can’t afford to match them. However, Turkey’s favourable tax structure allows players to keep a significantly larger percentage of their salary compared to those in the UK, Spain, or Italy. The best example of this is Victor Osimhen. It is believed that the Nigerian striker is on around €350,000 (Approx. £299,000) a week at Galatasaray (excluding bonuses, etc.) But, if Osimhen played in the Premier League, in order for him to take home the same salary as he does in Turkey after tax, an English club would need to pay him roughly £650,000 a week. This has proved to be a stumbling block in attempted moves for him in the past, by clubs such as Chelsea and Manchester United.
On top of the tax benefits, sponsor power is a fundamental pillar of the recruitment strategy for Turkey’s “Big Four” (Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş, and Trabzonspor). These clubs hold corporate alliances with major Turkish brands. These brands step in and help financially when it comes to marquee signings. They have been known to sponsor individual players, and even cover signing-on fees or agent commissions, allowing the Süper Lig’s “Big Four” to continue to recruit world-class talent.
There is no sign of this Süper Lig shopping spree slowing down anytime soon. The high net pay, European nights, and electric atmosphere will continue to tempt some of the world’s best. There is no doubt it will be worth tuning in to watch the Süper Lig this upcoming season.
