Ozil joins Basaksehir

German World Cup-winning midfielder Mesut Ozil signed for 2020 Turkish champions Basaksehir on Thursday, a day after he left their rivals Fenerbahce.

“Our club has signed a one-year contract with the option of another year with Mesut Özil,” Basaksehir said in a statement.

Basaksehir is known for its close ties with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was best man at Ozil’s wedding in 2019 to a former Miss Turkey, Amine Gulse.  

Ozil, 33, split with Fenerbahce with two years of his deal still to run.

Ozil arrived at Fenerbahce in January 2021 from Arsenal, where he had been excluded from the Gunners’ Premier League and Europa League squads that season. His last game for the London club was March 2020. – AFP