The widely anticipated transfer of midfielder **Orkun Kökçü** from Portuguese giants Benfica to Turkish club Besiktas is now, for all intents and purposes, complete. Visual confirmation emerged recently with photographs circulating of the player already clad in the black and white stripes of his new team, reportedly taken while en route to Istanbul. Besiktas themselves confirmed the player`s travel in an official communication, stating his expected arrival time.
This swift movement follows a period of speculation and confirms the end of Kökçü`s relatively short tenure in Lisbon. According to consistent reports across various media outlets, the deal is structured as a one-year loan agreement. This loan includes a mandatory purchase option set at **25 million euros**. Furthermore, the agreement incorporates potential performance-related add-ons that could see Benfica receive an additional **5 million euros**, pushing the total value of the transfer to a maximum of **30 million euros**.
It is perhaps noteworthy, with a hint of football`s inherent financial circularity, that the guaranteed fee in this outgoing deal precisely matches the initial fee Benfica paid to Feyenoord for Kökçü`s services just a year prior, in the summer of 2023. He arrived with considerable fanfare, a captain from the Dutch league, expected to be a central figure in Benfica`s midfield.
On the pitch, Kökçü, who is 24 years old, delivered a statistically solid season for Benfica. Across 55 appearances, he contributed **12 goals** and **11 assists**. These numbers suggest a player capable of significant offensive output from midfield. However, his time at the Estádio da Luz was also marked by reported friction behind the scenes. Public comments attributed to him regarding his role and perceived value, notably in an interview with Dutch media early in his spell, caused some initial turbulence. More recently, further disagreements were reported during the team`s pre-season activities in the United States.
Ultimately, despite his statistical contributions, the reported interpersonal dynamics appear to have paved the way for this prompt departure. His move to Besiktas marks a return to familiar territory for the Turkish international, offering a fresh start after a single, eventful season in Portugal. The official announcement from both clubs is now merely a formality.
