Istanbul Basaksehir signed the English-born Ghanaian defender Jerome Opoku, the club officially confirmed the deal via their website.
Opoku, the 24-year-old centre-back, joined the Turkish Super Lig side on a season-long loan deal, with the option for a permanent transfer at the end of the 2023-24 season.
Istanbul Basaksehir loaned the player from Portuguese FC Arouca after a protracted negotiation period. Opoku’s journey to Basaksehir began after a successful stint at Arouca during the 2022-23 Portuguese season.
Last summer, Opoku made the switch to Arouca after departing from English side Fulham. During his time with the Portuguese club, he showcased his defensive prowess, making 24 league appearances and contributing to eight clean sheets. Arouca’s impressive performance led them to a fifth-place finish in the league table.
Before moving to Basaksehir, Opoku had renewed his contract with Arouca, tying him to the club until 2026. However, his departure from the club was somewhat tumultuous. He had found himself under disciplinary scrutiny and was training separately from the squad after using social media to accuse the club of “disgusting behavior.” This followed his refusal to transfer to the Serbian club Red Star Belgrade, despite a prior agreement.
As the Turkish Super Lig season unfolds, Opoku’s contributions on the pitch will be closely watched and eagerly anticipated by both the club and its supporters.
The players estimated current transfer value according to Transfermarkt is €1,500,000.
