Beşiktaş holds signing ceremony for new transfers

Beşiktaş Club held a signing ceremony for the players it added to its squad during the second transfer and registration period of the 2023-2024 football season.

The signing ceremony, held at the Tüpraş Stadium Moda Center, was attended by the black-and-white club's president Hasan Arat, second president Hüseyin Yücel, board member Kaan Şakul, Beşiktaş Football Teams General Coordinator Samet Aybaba, and new transfers Jonas Svensson, Joe Worrall, Ernest Muçi, and Ali Muhammed Al-Musrati.

Semih Kılıçsoy, whose contract was extended, young goalkeeper Emir Yaşar, who signed a professional contract, and Yağız Karabulut, who was brought into the youth academy from Teksüt Bandırmaspor, also took part in the ceremony.

Speaking at the ceremony, President Arat stated that 68 days had passed since they took office and said, "We went through a difficult period in terms of sports. The arrival of our coach Santos and Samet Aybaba bringing our young players into the fold were harbingers of a new vision. Our community knows well how to overcome difficult days. If we are together, if we stand united, we will achieve this."

Emphasizing that they need to be strong in social media, digital media, and traditional media, Arat noted the following:

"Journalism should not just be about transfers. The Beşiktaş media must protect our rights to the end. We must be a whole. When Rebic's Achilles tendon is stepped on, when Muleka receives a blow close to breaking his leg, when our penalty is canceled in Sivas, when Rashica's penalty is not awarded, when Semih is punched in the neck, we must stand as one fist and fight. We are open to all kinds of criticism as long as there is no swearing or insults. Our fans are always right to guide us with correct criticisms. We are at the service of Beşiktaş. Beşiktaş owes nothing to anyone; everyone owes something to Beşiktaş. Let us unite in all media and protect the rights of Beşiktaş."

Mentioning the support of businessman Rahmi Koç, Arat said, "Our community should unite against those who do not understand these beauties, friendships, and loyalty and try to pull them elsewhere. Beşiktaş is a great 120-year-old plane tree. It has done what is necessary at the necessary time, and it will continue to do so. The reputation of Beşiktaş is above everything else."

The black-and-white club's president Arat said, "Eagles fly high."

Following President Hasan Arat's speech, the players were introduced one by one as they were called to the stage.

"We worked very hard for Muçi"

First, 22-year-old Albanian footballer Ernest Muçi, who was added to the squad from Polish representative Legia Warsaw, came to the stage.

Introducing the young footballer, President Arat explained the influence of the President of Poland on the transfer, saying, "We worked very hard for Muçi. He is an Albanian national team player. He will compete in the European Championship this season. It was a very difficult deal. When his agent Dino sat at the table, he said, 'There is no chance of this happening.' Our coach Santos wanted him to come. My coach Samet showed nearly 80 players, but Santos only wanted 2 people. Those two people are here today."

Addressing Muçi, Arat said, "You will be a footballer whom Beşiktaş fans love and trust very much. Santos and my coach Samet wanted you very much. Welcome home, welcome to Beşiktaş. Thank you for choosing us."

Ernest Muçi stated that he was happy to have come to Beşiktaş and said, "I am very proud to play for this club. I am excited. I am impatiently waiting for the day I will appear in front of our fans. I am very pleased and happy to be a part of this great club."

Reminding that he had his first training session with the black-and-white team, the 22-year-old footballer said, "I met my teammates. I was welcomed very warmly. I am very pleased with this. I trained with the team today. I came ready. Whether I play in the first match depends on our coach's decision."

Muçi will wear the number 23 jersey for the black-and-white team.

"Coach Santos has wanted Al-Musrati since the first day he arrived"

Beşiktaş Club President Hasan Arat said that Al-Musrati wanted to come to the black-and-white team very much.

Explaining that head coach Fernando Santos wanted Al-Musrati very much, Arat said, "Coach Santos has wanted Al-Musrati since the first day he arrived. He was my coach Samet's number one. Everyone said, 'He won't come to Beşiktaş.' We said that Beşiktaş is a big club and has a future. When we heard the phone call from him saying, 'I want to come to Beşiktaş,' we entered into a great traffic to achieve this transfer. We received support from his close friends. My coach Santos trusts him very much."

Stating that Al-Musrati, who was transferred from Portuguese representative Braga, does not have an agent, Arat said, "He spoke to us directly. There was no one in between. He is a player perfectly suited to the Beşiktaş spirit. My coach Samet was very happy when he heard that the deal was close to being finished. Welcome to Beşiktaş, the great eagle of Libya."

Al-Musrati said, "I feel very happy. I am at a club with a great history. I thank everyone who brought me here. I promise to give my all for Beşiktaş and our fans."

The Libyan footballer will wear the number 28 jersey for the black-and-white team.

"We transferred players with character"

Hasan Arat stated that center-back Joe Worrall, who was acquired from Nottingham Forest, is a footballer with character.

The black-and-white club's president emphasized that the 27-year-old center-back came by rejecting big offers, and continued as follows:

"Joe Worrall has been the legendary captain of Nottingham Forest since 2011. He is the second captain we have transferred after Al-Musrati. His character is very strong. His club received very high offers on the last night. He said he wanted to come to Beşiktaş by rejecting a very big offer. Our coach Santos said, 'I don't want names, I want character.' The greatest character is Joe Worrall's character. We transferred players with character. Joe is one of the most important examples of these."

The English footballer thanked them for the warm welcome and said, "The first week I spent with the team was very good. I was welcomed very warmly and in a friendly manner. I am looking forward to playing in front of our passionate fans for the rest of the season. Coming here was an easy decision for me. I will try to be a leader on the field and be successful."

Stating that he is a footballer suitable for Beşiktaş, Worrall said, "It was an easy decision. Beşiktaş is a well-known club. I fit in with Beşiktaş with everything I have. I liken this transfer to a marriage made in heaven."

"Svensson is a character worthy of Beşiktaş"

Hasan Arat said that Norwegian right-back Jonas Svensson, who was acquired from Adana Demirspor, is a footballer worthy of Beşiktaş in terms of character.

Explaining that Samet Aybaba and the technical team trust Svensson, Arat said, "Svensson is a fighter, disciplined, a character worthy of Beşiktaş."

The fact that the Norwegian footballer wanted to make his statement in Turkish surprised President Hasan Arat and the participants.

Reminding that he came to Beşiktaş about 1 month ago, the 30-year-old footballer said, "The first month went very well. I am very happy. Beşiktaş is a beautiful club. I hope everything will be good. I especially thank our president and coach Samet."

"Santos trusts Semih Kılıçsoy very much"

Beşiktaş Club President Arat stated that Fernando Santos trusts Semih very much.

Reminding that Semih came to the Beşiktaş youth academy in 2016 when he was 10 years old, Arat said, "Semih is our coach Samet's favorite. We extended his contract on January 2, 2024. We are hosting the youngest player to score a goal for Beşiktaş in European cups. Semih is the idol and child of Beşiktaş, whom our coach Santos trusts and does not want anyone to replace. We are proud of him."

Giving advice to Semih, Arat said, "We thank your family and the coaches who raised you. We wish you continued success. Your character is more important than anything. Never change. Turkey needs examples like you. You will be a Beşiktaş legend. Never stray from the advice of our coaches Samet and Santos. We will watch you with pride in the European Championship, and we will be champions in Turkey next season."

Upon a question about Semih's future, Hasan Arat said, "Semih is an asset that must be carefully protected by all of us. We shouldn't confuse him. He should be left with our coach Samet and Santos. Right now, he should only do his job, serve Beşiktaş, and be one of the greatest leaders in the championship we will reach. Fate will determine the subsequent developments. May God always protect him. Let's embrace him, take good care of him, not upset him, and support him. May God protect him from injuries and evils."

Emphasizing that there is no release clause in Semih Kılıçsoy's contract, Arat said, "Semih's contract is his trust in his coach, our community, and Beşiktaş. His coach wants him to play every minute. What matters is that he and our club are successful."

Samet Aybaba said, "Semih is our valuable player. I understood how valuable he was first, then everyone understood. There are no conditions in his contract. He is our player until 2028. As long as he continues like this, he is planning correctly. We found him a style consultant. We are having him take English and diction lessons. He will be fully equipped. Whatever his fate requires, that will be."

Stating that he is happy to play for Beşiktaş, Semih said, "I walked through the gates of Fulya when I was 10 years old. I am living the things I dreamed of. I feel incredible and indescribable things. Playing in front of our fans at Inönü and scoring goals was always my dream. I am very happy to be experiencing these. I am playing for the most beautiful and greatest club in the world. I feel lucky for this. I am always trying to do more than my best."

Stating that he has no other career plans than Beşiktaş, Semih said, "I am not thinking about my career. I want to wear this jersey for many years. It is a great honor to wear this jersey."

"Emir will protect the national team's goal in the future"

The Beşiktaş Club President said that they expect great things from goalkeeper Emir Yaşar, who signed a professional contract.

Stating that Emir came to Beşiktaş at the age of 9, Arat said, "Our coach Samet came to us and said, 'There is someone very important. I will sign a contract immediately. I watched his match yesterday. We have a tremendous child who will protect the national team and Beşiktaş's goal in the future,' and told us about Emir. He signed a contract with him until 2028. Beşiktaş has included the child who came at the age of 9 into the professional squad."

Emir Yaşar said, "I am very happy, proud, and excited. I thank our president and coach Samet. I want to be a footballer worthy of Beşiktaş."

The black-and-white club also included 10-year-old Yağız Karabulut, who was taken into the youth academy, in the ceremony.

Yağız, who was acquired from Teksüt Bandırmaspor, said, "I came from Balıkesir. I am very happy. I play as a left winger and number 10. I thank coach Samet and our president Hasan Arat."

Aybaba talked about Yağız's transfer process and said, "This is our future. We have many players like this. Let's love, believe, and trust them."