The rise of Galatasaray in the Champions League

Three games, three wins – that’s the flawless European Cup record of the Turkish representatives last week.

Galatasaray? 3-1 in the Champions League against Norwegian champions Bodø/Glimt.

Fenerbahçe? 1-0 in the Europa League against German cup winners Stuttgart.

Samsunspor? 3-0 against Ukrainian champions Dynamo Kyiv. Overall, the teams have won six of eight games in the league phase so far. Watching matches from Galatasaray is as emotional as playing the new live casino games.

These results bring to life what is probably the most striking announcement of the soccer summer. “From now on, there will be six major leagues in Europe – and Turkey will be one of them. Then Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, and Beşiktaş can also win the Champions League,” said Erden Timur (43), former soccer boss of champions Gala, in the summer, with an eye on the Süper Lig’s XXL attack.

The 18 clubs spent a total of €349 million on transfers. This is the highest figure behind the big five leagues (Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga, LaLiga, Ligue 1) and a good 50 percent more than in the previous year. At the same time, all clubs made a combined transfer deficit of €173 million – only the Premier League’s transfer balance was worse in Europe.

The five most expensive purchases in league history all took place during the last transfer window. Leading the way was the $75 million blockbuster transfer of striker Victor Osimhen (26), who moved permanently from Italian champions Napoli to Galatasaray after his loan spell. Other examples: Besiktas bought Orkun Kökcü (24) for €30 million from Benfica. From there, left winger Kerem Aktürkoglu (27) moved to Fenerbahçe for €22.5 million.

Gala also signed DFB stars Leroy Sané (29/from Bayern) and Ilkay Gündogan (35/from Man City), both on free transfers. Brazil’s national goalkeeper Ederson (32) now plays for Fenerbahçe instead of Man City. Outside the top five leagues, only FC Porto, Sporting, and Benfica now have a higher squad market value than Galatasaray ($305 million) and Fenerbahçe ($292 million).

“The level of the Turkish league is really good, as shown by the recent results of Turkish teams in international competitions. The teams are well trained tactically and technically,” Domenico Tedesco (40) told SPORT BILD. He should know. He has been Fenerbahçe’s coach since September.

What is special about Turkey’s transfer offensive is that, compared to previous years, there are fewer aging stars – such as former Brazil World Cup winner Roberto Carlos (52), who joined Fener in 2007 at the age of 34. Or Napoli legend Dries Mertens (38), who moved to Gala in 2022 at the age of 35. Osimhen, Kökcü, and Sané are all still in their twenties. The clubs are still feeling the consequences of the old squad policy today. Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe would have the second and third-oldest teams in the Bundesliga.

But what attracts stars to a league that, according to UEFA’s five-year ranking, is only the tenth strongest in Europe? One factor is the good salaries. Star striker Osimhen (41 goals last season) earns more than $20 million a year, while Sané earns up to $15 million. Taxes are low, and for foreigners in particular, gross income is almost equal to net income. Payments are often made in euros rather than in Turkish lira, which is losing value.

Added to this is the affection of the fans. There is hardly a star who is not cheered by thousands of fans upon arrival at the airport or at a special presentation in the stadium, no matter what time of day. “The fans’ love for soccer is incredible,” says Tedesco, “I like it when there are big emotions. It shows that people care about the club, that they are passionate about it.” He reports: “The people here are all extremely warm and made it really easy for us to feel very comfortable from the very first moment.”

Where does the money for the attack come from? Just a few years ago, Turkey’s top clubs were burdened with debts totaling more than €1 billion. One measure is capital increases for clubs traded on the stock exchange. By issuing new shares, Gala raised around €51 million net. Fener expects to raise around €20 million with a similar measure, while Beşiktaş hopes to gain an investment scope of more than €300 million through restructuring.

The attack on Turkey has had another effect: the national team. After clear victories against Bulgaria and Georgia, the World Cup play-offs are in sight. It would be the first World Cup appearance in more than 20 years.

For fans following Galatasaray’s journey and the wider competition this season, keeping up with game-by-game momentum is essential. Exploring Live Champions League markets offers a clear view of shifting odds, form changes, and real-time insights across every fixture. It’s a valuable way to stay connected to the tournament’s progression as Europe’s top clubs battle for dominance