Leroy Sané (29, Galatasaray) has finally settled in Turkey.
Galatasaray announced Sané's official signing on the 13th (Korea time). He has signed a three-year contract as a free agent, with no transfer fee.
European football transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano noted on the 12th, "Sané is transferring to Galatasaray. He has boarded a flight to Istanbul and is expected to sign the contract after a medical test."
Galatasaray also announced through Turkey's Public Disclosure Platform (KAP) that "official negotiations have begun to acquire professional football player Leroy Aziz Sané," indicating that the transfer has been made official.
German outlet Bild reported, "Sané is currently on a flight to Istanbul, and he will immediately sign the contract after completing the medical test." The enthusiasm from Galatasaray fans was overwhelming. A live tracker of Sané's flight was aired on the club's official YouTube channel, with over 1 million fans watching it. The broadcast switched to a live airport stream, where a large banner reading "Welcome ('Herzlich Willkommen')" was displayed at the airport. The number of live viewers exceeded 2 million.
Negotiations for Sané's re-signing with Bayern Munich had recently shown positive prospects, but ultimately fell through. Florian Plettenberg, a reporter from German Sky Sports, reported, "Sané rejected Bayern's upgraded re-signing offer and is in negotiations with Galatasaray."
British outlet Daily Mail reported, "Sané has notified Bayern that he will not be re-signing. He is preparing for a contract with Galatasaray, which could be worth up to £10.16 million (approximately 18.8 billion won) per year." The contract duration is expected to be three years, indicating a longer tenure in the Turkish league than anticipated.
Sané's move has impacted European big clubs as well. Recently, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham all showed interest in acquiring Sané and attempted contact, but the decision to move to Turkey thwarted those efforts. Sané's agent is said to have engaged in discussions with these clubs. This outcome is particularly disappointing for Arsenal, as manager Mikel Arteta was looking to bolster his side wingers.
After transferring from Manchester City to Bayern in 2020, Sané won four consecutive Bundesliga titles and was expected to play a key role in the club's World Cup campaign. However, this decision means that Bayern has lost a key resource.
Galatasaray is currently focusing on reshuffling its attacking line. After sending Victor Osimhen back, who was on loan from SSC Napoli, the club has been pursuing Sané as a replacement and achieved satisfactory results by signing him on a free contract.
The Turkish league has recently emerged as a new destination for stars from the Premier League. However, the choice of a player like Sané, who is still competitive in the top leagues, to move to Turkey is considered an unusual case.
The process was quick. Sané will officially become part of Galatasaray starting July 1. Ultimately, despite love calls from Premier League big clubs including Tottenham, he opted for a higher salary.
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