Kerem Aktürkoğlu explains why he transferred to Fenerbahçe

Kerem Aktürkoğlu said, "My only goal is to repay the value shown to me by this honorable community on the pitch and to be one of the biggest contributors to the championship it deserves."

Making statements at the signing ceremony held at the Chobani Stadium Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu Sports Complex, Aktürkoğlu made the following statement:

“Do you know why I said, ‘I am happy to have come to Turkey’s most honorable club’? I gave 100% until the last moment for every club I was under contract with; I never thought otherwise. This was the case when I was at Benfica as well. Before the Benfica-Fenerbahçe matches, because my transfer had not been finalized and Benfica did not agree to let me go, I told Hakan Safi and our President, ‘I will play.’ Our President told me, ‘Of course you will play. You will do what you need to do for the club you are under contract with.’

Mr. Hakan Safi also told me, ‘You will do your best. If you weren't such a person, we wouldn't want you this much anyway.’ It was unthinkable for me to do otherwise. But I would be lying if I said I didn't think things would change after I scored a goal in the match and caused Benfica to advance. However, both our fans and our management expressed in a very noble way that I did what I had to do. And our President called me the very next day and said, ‘We want you and we will get you. You did what you had to do.’

These honorable behaviors are the reasons for my statement yesterday. Otherwise, I have no intention of insulting other communities with empty rhetoric or forced interpretations by others, nor could I. I want to talk about my Fenerbahçe career with my performance on the pitch. I am aware that there is an attempt to drag me into off-pitch polemics with superior effort. But as I said yesterday, my only goal is to repay the value shown to me by this honorable community on the pitch and to be one of the biggest contributors to the championship it deserves.”

Evaluating the transfer process, our Board Member Hakan Safi made the following statement:

“How did this story begin? On July 19, on World Fenerbahçe Fans Day, our dear President had a request from me, saying that Mr. Hakan wants to sign a big transfer this year. I had already been talking to my president for a long time. Along with his request, we all held consultations together. Many players came and went, but I personally chose the Kerem Aktürkoğlu transfer and we worked very hard for it to happen. Since July 19, we have struggled and run around a lot for this business. It is a difficult transfer, not easy. Big transfers take time anyway.

First, we got permission from Benfica, then we started talking to Kerem. Thank God, when we saw his love for Fenerbahçe, his childhood passion, we easily convinced each other. He wanted it, we wanted it very much. Indeed, Benfica also showed us convenience. They saw our determination. After seeing our passion, Benfica also gave us permission.

The process took a bit long, it was difficult, but it was a beautiful transfer. May Kerem be beneficial to our Fenerbahçe. He will do great things, I believe. After seeing his ambition and heart, I believe he will do even better things than what he said. I hope he will also be the darling of the fans. We will have very beautiful days here too.

All the stands will chant, ‘Kerem, Kerem,’ and we will be very happy about this. We will be very happy with every beautiful move, assist, and goal he makes. Once again, may it be beneficial to our community. Here, I would like to thank our President Ali Koç again for giving me such an opportunity. I hope beautiful days await us. I think this season will be even better all together. I say ‘good luck’ and ‘welcome’ to him once again.”