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Erden Timur, former vice president of Galatasaray, Türkiye’s reigning champion, and chairman of Istanbul-based housing developer Nef, has been arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into a betting scandal in Turkish football on charges of money laundering.
The arrest follows a review by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, which found evidence linking Erden Timur to money laundering practices tied to informal gains from illegal betting, leading to his detention and referral to court on charges of "laundering assets obtained from criminal activity."
According to the judicial referral document, between 2023 and 2025, Timur carried out nearly ₺1 billion ($23.28 million) worth of money transfers through a firm operating in Istanbul’s historic Grand Bazaar, under the pretext of gold trading. The same company also reportedly carried out large-scale transactions during the same period with a shell company linked to Murat Ozkaya, president of Turkish Super Lig club Eyupspor, who was earlier arrested in the investigation on match-fixing charges.
The case file includes financial review findings linking Timur to 93 individuals suspected of involvement in illegal betting, with total transactions reportedly amounting to ₺1.31 million ($30,507.54).
Prosecutors stated that large sums were transferred to Timur’s personal accounts, labeled as down payments or real estate-related transactions. In his testimony, Timur admitted to conducting transactions through his personal accounts until 2021, after which he said he began using company accounts.
An examination of financial records revealed that approximately ₺300 million ($6.98 million) was deposited in cash into Timur’s personal accounts in 2024 alone. The document argued that using personal accounts for corporate transactions contradicts the expected conduct of prudent business professionals.
The document also noted that no written declarations were submitted regarding the use of personal accounts on behalf of companies, while Nef and all its subsidiaries reported commercial losses over the past three years, with prosecutors alleging that substantial assets were transferred from the firms to Timur’s personal accounts, contributing to those losses.
Erden Timur, 44, is a Turkish businessman and lawyer who rose to prominence in Turkish football during his tenure at Galatasaray. He officially joined the club’s leadership as vice chairman in June 2022, following internal elections, and served in that role until June 2024.
During his tenure, Galatasaray secured high-profile transfers, including Mauro Icardi, Davinson Sanchez, and Lucas Torreira, players who played key roles in the club’s run of three consecutive league titles.
Founded in 2007, Nef, officially Timur Gayrimenkul Gelistirme Yapi ve Yatirim, is known for large-scale residential projects in Türkiye and abroad. The company recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), backed by the Public Investment Fund, to develop a high-end mixed-use complex on the Red Sea coast near Jeddah.
Timur’s name surfaced in a widening investigation led by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office into illegal betting operations in Turkish football.
In late December 2025, he was among 29 individuals for whom detention orders were issued.
The broader investigation, launched in late October and referred to in the media as the "betting scandal," has implicated club executives, referees, and players.
While legal proceedings are ongoing, no conviction has been issued against Timur.
The case remains under judicial review as authorities continue to investigate the financial structures and individuals involved.
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