Unai Emery
January 2026
Emery and Tielemans clashed as Tielemans was substituted late on, with Emery appearing to shove the midfielder toward the dugout during a tense finale. With added time ongoing, Emery replaced Tielemans with 18-year-old George Hemmings as Villa protected a 1-0 lead secured by a Jadon Sancho goal, prompting an on-field argument that drew attention despite Villa qualifying for the last 16.
Jadon Sancho (Manchester United)
November 2025
Jadon Sancho’s troubled Manchester United career has taken another twist as he and his representatives reportedly opened talks in Istanbul with Fenerbahce, Besiktas and Galatasaray, exploring a permanent escape from Old Trafford after another disappointing loan spell that has yielded limited minutes at Aston Villa. Frozen out by Ruben Amorim and banished by Erik ten Hag, the winger has taken loans at Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea and now Villa. He is ready to accept a big pay cut to around seven or eight million pounds to restart his career.
Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad)
October 2025
Fenerbahce are preparing a January move for Benzema to fix their goalscoring struggles. The 37-year-old Ballon d’Or winner earns €50m annually in Saudi Arabia but is reportedly open to returning to Europe. Club president Sadettin Saran has endorsed the pursuit.
Talks may accelerate if Benzema’s camp shows interest. Underperforming forward Jhon Duran could depart to make room. If negotiations fail, Fenerbahce will pivot to other strikers. The move would reunite Benzema with European competition and restore his late-career visibility.
Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter Milan)
September 2025
Fenerbahce president Ali Koc revealed Calhanoglu had agreed to join them in summer despite his lifelong ties to Galatasaray. Inter’s €45m valuation halted moves, sparking frustration as speculation strained relationships at Inter before the Turkish international recommitted through his agent. After Inter’s disappointing season, transfer rumors swirled, with Galatasaray links also intensifying. Lautaro Martinez publicly urged unsettled players to leave, further fueling drama. Koc’s claims reignited controversy, but Calhanoglu’s camp denied negotiations. The midfielder remains central to Inter despite ongoing whispers and contract uncertainties.
Andre Onana (Trabzonspor)
September 2025
Andre Onana’s Trabzonspor debut ended in disappointment as a costly error gifted Fenerbahce the decisive goal in a 1-0 loss. The Manchester United loanee failed to deal with a routine shot, allowing Youssef En-Nesyri to strike into an empty net just before halftime. Despite Trabzonspor being reduced to 10 men after Okay Yokuslu’s red card, Onana kept his side competitive with several saves. However, his blunder overshadowed his otherwise strong performance, reinforcing doubts about his reliability after high-profile mistakes during his Manchester United stint before moving to Turkey.
Domenico Tedesco
September 2025
Fenerbahce are reportedly near an agreement with ex-Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco to replace Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese legend was dismissed after failing to qualify for the Champions League, sparking a wide search including names like Postecoglou, Hoeness, Spalletti, and Conceicao. Tedesco, out of work since leaving Belgium, has emerged as the preferred choice to restore dominance at Fenerbahce. The club, desperate for quick stability after Mourinho’s short-lived tenure, believes his tactical reputation offers a path forward in both domestic and European competition.
Jose Mourinho
September 2025
Fenerbahce president Ali Koc confirmed Jose Mourinho was dismissed for his defensive football, despite recording 37 wins in 62 games. A Champions League exit to Benfica exposed flaws, and the board demanded a more dominant style to suit Turkish football expectations. Koc described Mourinho’s exit as a “bitter parting,” praising his achievements but insisting the team needed attacking ambition. He said failing to adapt risked stagnation, with fans demanding control in domestic games. The board opted for change to push the squad forward.
Oleksandr Zinchenko (Arsenal)
August 2025
Porto, Fenerbahce, and Real Betis are monitoring Zinchenko, who has fallen out of favour under Mikel Arteta. With one year left on his contract, he may run it down; Myles Lewis-Skelly’s breakout has pushed him down the left-back pecking order.
Jhon Durán (Al Nassr > Fenerbahce)
July 2025
Fenerbahce have signed Colombian striker Jhon Durán on a one-year loan from Al Nassr, just six months after his €85m move from Aston Villa.
After 12 goals in 18 games in Saudi Arabia, Durán heads to Turkey under Jose Mourinho. Fenerbahce confirmed the agreement and welcomed him on social media.
Jose Mourinho (Fenerbahçe), Okan Buruk (Galatasaray)
2 April Turkish Cup quarterfinal
Jose Mourinho grabbed rival coach Okan Buruk’s nose during a post-match melee, triggering a dramatic reaction and escalating tensions. Buruk dropped to the ground holding his face, calling it “not very stylish,” while Galatasaray’s VP condemned it as an attack on Turkish football.
The incident followed a heated match marred by a late-game brawl that saw three players sent off. Galatasaray mocked Mourinho online, reigniting their feud after previous accusations of racism and a prior suspension.