Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Football London
Football London
Sport
Sam Hill

Who is Arda Guler? 18-year-old 'Turkish Lionel Messi' linked with Arsenal £15m transfer

Fenerbahce wonderkid Arda Guler could be available for just £15million in the summer transfer window. Arsenal have been linked with the 18-year-old but the north London outfit face fierce competition from Serie A champions, Napoli, as well as Ligue 1 giants, Paris Saint-Germain.

Mikel Arteta is in need of depth in wide areas and the midfield, and considering the versatile star is at the very beginning of his career, it could be a smart move for either club moving forward. Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Guler has a €17.5million (£15million) release clause included in his current contract.

football.london understands Arsenal are prioritising a move for West Ham captain Declan Rice, whilst Moises Caicedo is also a target for the Gunners. However, a move for Guler could be sanctioned due to his versatility and ability at such a young age.

As the transfer window officially opens, Arsenal are expected to begin their business swiftly and have now been tipped to make a move for the Fenerbahce starlet. With that in mind, let's take a brief look at his background and career so far.

Guler's path so far

Born in Ankara, Turkey, in February 2005, Guler started his youth career at Ankara-based club, Genclerbirligi.

The midfielder signed a two-and-a-half-year-long professional contract with Fenerbahce, on January 13, 2021. At the start of 2022–23 season, Guler was given the number 10 shirt, which has a special meaning for Fenerbahce fans, being the number of club legend Alex de Souza.

READ MORE: Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: Declan Rice deal advances, Bellingham announced, Caicedo bid

On April 10, 2022, Fenerbahce hosted Galatasaray and one banner stood out among all the rest inside the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium. As cited by GOAL, it read: "Arda Guler: The Turkish Messi." The sign was held aloft by a 20-year-old fan who had travelled from London to be at one of the most passionate games anywhere in world football.

In March 2022, the club announced that he had agreed a new three-year deal. Guler has made 29 Fenerbache appearances since making his first-team debut last season, registering three goals and an assist in 13 outings this term. He has also been called-up to the Turkish national team.

Guler played 35 times in the 2022/23 season, scoring six goals and providing a further seven assists. He completed 2.9 key passes per game this season (via WhoScored) - a tally bettered by only five other players in the Turkish top division.

In addition, he has completed an average of two successful dribbles per game, with only team-mate Emre Mor recording a higher amount. His average rating for the season (7.32) is the fourth-highest of any active player in the division.

Guler's contract is not set to expire until 2025 - but a reported £15million release clause could see him be available on the cheap this summer.

READ NEXT:

Jamie Carragher issues major Declan Rice warning as Arsenal prepare £100m transfer bid

Declan Rice bid, Moises Caicedo latest, Timothy Castagne links, Joao Cancelo transfer

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.