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Besiktas have officially reached an agreement with Portuguese side Benfica to sign Türkiye international Orkun Kokcu in a deal worth up to €30 million ($35.1 million). The 24-year-old midfielder is expected in Istanbul this weekend to complete medical checks before signing a five-year contract.
The transfer is structured as a one-year loan with a mandatory €25 million buy clause triggered upon Kokcu’s first appearance. The deal also includes €5 million in performance-based bonuses.
This move marks a deeply personal moment for Kokcu, a lifelong Besiktas fan. In pursuit of his boyhood dream, the Türkiye star rejected multiple high-profile clubs—many offering significantly more lucrative contracts.
Clubs reportedly turned down by Kokcu include:
He even gave up pending salary payments in Portugal and accepted a far lower salary to fulfill what he called a lifelong dream.
Kokcu began his professional career at Feyenoord, where he became club captain before moving to Benfica in 2023 for around €30 million. With the Portuguese side, he recorded 98 matches, 19 goals, and 22 assists, helping them win the Portuguese League Cup and Super Cup.
Now, he returns to Türkiye not just as a star, but as a devoted fan ready to lead the team. At Besiktas, Kokcu will wear the No. 10 shirt and serve as one of the team captains. A public signing ceremony at the stadium is planned.
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