Behind Burak Yilmaz’ transfer to Sittard

The summer transfer window can be truly magical at times. Every now and then, there’s always a signing that catches you completely off guard. 

Burak Yilmaz is a football icon in Turkey. The 36 year old striker, nicknamed The King, has played for the four biggest Turkish clubs: Galatasaray, Trabzonspor, Besiktas and Fenerbahce. He has also proudly captained the Turkish national team for years. In the 2020-21 season, he was seen as a key figure that helped Lille regain the French league title for the first time in 10 years, scoring 16 goals and assisting several more that season.  His heroics helped his side fend off star-studded giants in the capital, Paris Saint Germain, as they finished just a point ahead of them.

After leaving Lille as a free agent at the end of last season, Burak Yilmaz had offers from clubs all over the globe. He could have signed lucrative deals at interested clubs in England, Greece and France, for example. But Burak Yilmaz surprised the world of football by signing a contract at Fortuna Sittard, a relatively small club from the Netherlands. In fact, Fortuna Sittard just about escaped relegation from the Dutch Eredivisie last season. Even the club's own supporters found it hard to believe that they signed a player of Burak Yilmaz’ caliber. 

How did this small club manage to sign one of the most respected number 9’s in football? We spoke with several Turkish and Dutch football experts, and Fortuna Sittard’s president, to give you the inside story.

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