Despite the challenges that Besiktas JK face this year, Gambian defender Omar Colley is emerging as the standout player, experiencing what may be the brightest season of his career.
The 2023/2024 season presents a tale of uncertainty for Turkish giants Besiktas as the team finds itself in the fifth position in the Super Lig, trailing the leading team by a considerable 12 points. In the Conference League, the Black eagles face adversity, having failed to secure a single victory in four rounds, landing them at the bottom of Group D.
What’s Omar Colley’s Salary at Besiktas?
The central defender for the Gambian national team inked a two-year contract with the Turkish team in the winter of 2023, extending until June 30, 2025. Over this period, Colley is reportedly set to earn €3,300,000, excluding bonuses. For the ongoing 2023/24 season, the Gambian defender will pocket €1,650,000, translating to a weekly sum of €31,731.
|
Annual Salary |
€1,650,000 |
118,471,109 Gambian Dalasis |
|
Monthly Salary |
€137,500 |
9,872,592 Gambian Dalasis |
|
Weekly Salary |
€ 31,731 |
2,278,726 Gambian Dalasis |
|
Daily Salary |
€4,533 |
325,532 Gambian Dalasis |
Team Salary Overview: Colley Among Top Earners
In the 2023/2024 season, Besiktas sees a total salary expenditure of €24,148,914, averaging €464,402 per week. Leading the earnings chart are midfielder Rachid Ghezzal and Cameroon national team striker Vincent Aboubakar, each pocketing €2,916,056 annually, or €56,078 weekly. Notably, Omar Colley shares the sixth position in the club’s salary hierarchy with Frenchman Valentin Rosier, securing the third spot among all team defenders.
Career Salary Comparison
In 2018, the defender made a move from the Belgian side KRC Genk to UC Sampdoria, tripling his salary, which proved to be his biggest salary increase at the moment. Colley spent five years with the Italian club, during which he received his highest earnings.
|
Club |
Annual Salary (EUR) |
Annual Salary (GMD) |
|
Besiktas JK (2023/24) |
€ 1,650,000 |
118,471,109 Gambian Dalasis |
|
UC Sampdoria (2018-2023) |
€ 1,760,000 |
126,342,128 Gambian Dalasis |
|
KRC Genk (2017/2018) |
€ 630,000 |
45,227,328 Gambian Dalasis |
|
KRC Genk (2016/2017) |
€ 400,000 |
28,715,764 Gambian Dalasis |
Market Value
Omar Colley attained the peak of his transfer market value in 2019 at the age of 27. In that season, the defender made his Serie A debut, participating in 22 matches for Sampdoria across all competitions. Currently, Transfermarkt.com estimates the market value of the 30-year-old Gambian defender at €3.8 million.
|
Club |
Year |
Market Value |
|
Besiktas JK |
2023 |
€ 3,800,000 |
|
UC Sampdoria |
2021 |
€ 6,000,000 |
|
UC Sampdoria |
2019 |
€ 8,000,000 |
|
KRC Genk |
2017 |
€ 5,000.000 |
|
KRC Genk |
2016 (October) |
€ 1,500,000 |
|
Djurgardens IF |
2016 (June) |
€ 700,000 |
|
KuPS |
2014 |
€ 350,000 |
Achievements with the National Team
The highlight of the defender’s international career with the Gambian national team was reaching the quarterfinals of the 2021 African Cup of Nations. Despite earning seven points and securing the second spot in the group based on goal difference, Gambia, captained by Omar Colley, suffered a 2-0 defeat in the quarterfinals to the eventual bronze medalists, the Cameroonian national team. Colley ranks second in the number of matches played for the national team, with 45 games, trailing record-holder Ebou Sillah by just ten matches.
Prospects: Key Role in Besiktas and Potential Salary Growth
For the second consecutive season, Omar Colley assumes the role of the main defender for the Turkish team. The Gambians exceptional performance positions him as a key player to watch for the remainder of the 2023/24 season. If he continues to excel there is no doubt that Besiktas will offer him a new contract with a better salary, or he will achieve new financial hights in another European football.
