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Baran Yildiz, a rising star from Genclerbirligi’s U19 squad, has completed a transfer to Newcastle United’s U18 team, marking a significant step in his developing football career.
Born and raised in Ankara, Yildiz began his football journey in 2017 within the Genclerbirligi youth academy. He progressed through various age groups, notably scoring a hat-trick against Galatasaray’s U17 team and totaling seven goals for Genclerbirligi’s U19 side.
This season, the 18-year-old has appeared in four matches for Newcastle’s U18 team, contributing one assist.
Seckin Topcu, Director of Genclerbirligi Football Academy, who has closely followed Yildiz’s growth, commented on the young player’s move: “We were working to complete Baran’s development here, but once the offer from England came, he left. The dream of playing in Europe is strong among our players, and we do not stand in their way.”
Topcu added that the club aims to keep players longer at Genclerbirligi before transferring them abroad, following the examples of former players like Irfan Can, Giray, and Orhan Sham.
Acknowledging the global advances in football and technology, Topcu noted, “We did not even realize how much attention Baran was receiving. Several Turkish clubs showed interest, but also European teams have been monitoring him through modern scouting methods. His standout performance in the match against Galatasaray, where he scored three goals, likely sealed the deal.”
He concluded, “My focus remains on how to help our players develop to compete at the highest European levels.”
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