€453m & counting breaks record season spend – why are Turkish clubs splashing the cash?

Turkish Deadline Day this Friday 

Whilst the transfer window slammed shuts for many of Europe’s top leagues on Monday, the Deadline Day for Turkish football clubs actually comes this Friday, February 6. By the standards of spending usually associated with the top-five leagues, it was a relatively quiet window, but the same can’t be said for teams in the Turkish Süper Lig. Just as they did in the summer transfer window, Turkish clubs have been splashing the cash once more.

Mattéo Guendouzi signed for Fenerbahce for €28 million, whilst Tammy Abraham signed for Besiktas for €15m before moving straight to Aston Villa for €21m. There is also expected to be plenty more chaos before the deadline slams shut at 9pm CET. Last summer’s window we also witnessed numerous big money deals, including Victor Osimhen’s league record-breaking €75m move to Galatasaray.

Record spend in a season by Turkish clubs doubled this term

As illustrated in the graphic above, as of this Friday at 12pm CET, €453m had been spent by Turkish clubs across the course of the 2025/26 season from both the summer and winter windows. This not only eclipses the previous record for Süper Lig club’s spending on transfers in one season, it doubles it. And then some more. Last term, the 2024/25 season had broken the record with a total of €221m spent. This is clearly more than just an anomaly and a clear signal that ambitions are high in Turkish football right now.

Why are Turkish clubs spending so much?

Lara Karacan is Transfermarkt’s Area Manager in Turkey and tells us more about why there has been such huge investment from Turkish clubs this season: “Clubs like Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray have spent a lot because they exited the Bankalar Birliği debt restructuring agreement, which has given them greater financial freedom, even though this also comes with higher risk. Additional income from property sales has increased liquidity. At the same time, rising transfer market prices and inflation have pushed fees higher, making the overall spending appear even more significant.”

Asked if this is the strongest she has ever seen the Turkish league in terms of standard, Karacan said: “In my opinion, the overall standard of a league is determined by its depth, and the gap between the top clubs and the rest of the league remains significant. While some mid-table clubs are becoming more organised and professional, many teams still struggle with financial stability, squad depth and consistency.” But what are the ambitions of Turkish football and can the Süper Lig ever truly compete with Europe’s top-five leagues?

“There is clearly an ambition from both the federation and the clubs to raise standards, professionalise structures and improve the league’s image,” Karacan stated. “Addressing credibility and governance issues is an important step in that process. However, when it comes to reaching the level of the top-five leagues, structural factors such as finances, youth development and infrastructure still create a significant gap, which requires time and long-term planning to overcome.”

So we will continue to see the top clubs in Turkey spending big as we have this season? “Yes, that trend is likely to continue,” Karacan answered. “Fan expectations play a major role in Türkiye and success quickly creates pressure to invest even more the following season. Big-name players also bring marketing value and international attention. However, sustainability will be crucial. Clubs must balance continued investment with debt reduction, long-term financial planning, and a stronger focus on player sales. If the big clubs remain economically stable, high spending will continue, but financial risk will remain part of the equation.”