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Besiktas’s new signing Hyeon-gyu Oh has made a strong start to his career in Türkiye, scoring in each of his first three matches and drawing attention both domestically and internationally.
The 24-year-old South Korean forward has quickly become one of the most talked-about players in the Trendyol Super Lig after joining the Istanbul club during the winter transfer window.
His recent performances, including goals against Corendon Alanyaspor, RAMS Basaksehir, and Goztepe, have strengthened Besiktas’s attack and increased interest in the striker’s career trajectory.
Besiktas defeated Goztepe 4-0 in the 23rd week of the league, with Oh scoring the team’s fourth goal in the 74th minute after receiving a pass from Vaclav Cerny. The forward started the match and played the full 90 minutes. He also recorded two assists in his first 3 appearances for the club.
His early impact has contributed to growing popularity among supporters in Türkiye while also attracting strong media coverage in his home country.
Hyeon-gyu Oh’s performance with Besiktas has received wide coverage in South Korean media, where his progress since moving to Türkiye has been described as rapid.
Reports in South Korea highlighted his scoring streak and attacking impact. The JoongAng described the forward as demonstrating “excellent scoring ability” by finding the net in three consecutive matches, while Hankyoreh detailed his powerful finish against Goztepe, noting that his shot from inside the penalty area reached the top corner.
Chosun reported that the striker’s rise has accelerated since his transfer to Türkiye, recalling his bicycle kick goal against Alanyaspor and his contribution of one goal and one assist in the away match against Basaksehir.
Besiktas head coach Sergen Yalcin praised the forward, saying, “Oh Hyeon-gyu is a great player with abundant individuality. His character is excellent, and he is very humble. He is a player who fights until the end and does not spare his body.”
Oh also spoke about his mentality after the match, saying, “I imagined scoring in every match even before coming to Besiktas. So far, I have been doing that. It feels like a dream.”
Born on April 12, 2001, in Namyangju, South Korea, Hyeon-gyu Oh plays as a centre forward and stands 1.87 meters tall.
He began his football career at Maseog ES before joining the Suwon Samsung Bluewings youth system.
He made his professional debut with Suwon in 2019 and later played on loan for Gimcheon Sangmu. His performances attracted European interest, leading to a transfer to Scottish club Celtic in January 2023, where he played for around one and a half seasons. He later moved to Belgian side Genk in July 2024.
Besiktas signed the striker for over €14 million ($16.5 million) on a three and a half season contract, strengthening the squad after selling Tammy Abraham to Aston Villa during the winter transfer period.
Across his club career, Oh recorded the following statistics:
In total, he has played 213 professional matches, scoring 57 goals and providing 15 assists.
He also represents the South Korea national team, earning 24 caps and scoring six goals.
Oh’s transfer also marked a milestone for the Istanbul club.
He became the first South Korean footballer in Besiktas’s history and the club’s 197th foreign signing.
Since 1959, Besiktas has signed players from 56 countries, with Brazil producing the highest number of foreign players in the club’s history. Oh’s arrival increased the number of represented nationalities to 57.
His strong physical profile, technical ability, and attacking presence have been cited among the key factors behind the club’s decision to sign the forward, who currently has a market value of around €7 million, according to Transfermarkt data.
Korean striker Hyeon-gyu Oh’s early performances with Besiktas have included notable moments that increased attention around the player.
In one match, he scored with a powerful right-foot shot recorded at 122 kilometers per hour, which South Korean media described as the fastest shot recorded in the Super Lig over the past 20 years.
Data analysis of the attempt showed an expected goals value of 0.05, indicating a low probability scoring-chance that demonstrated his finishing ability.
He also scored a bicycle kick in his debut match and recorded a goal and assist against Basaksehir before scoring again against Goztepe, becoming the first player in Besiktas history to score in his first three matches for the club.
The forward’s immediate impact has strengthened expectations around his role in Besiktas’ attacking line and positioned him as one of the standout new signings of the Super Lig season.
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