Deniz Gul Joins Galatasaray for €10m

Galatasaray left it late, but they got their man.

Turkish international striker Deniz Gul has completed his move from FC Porto to the reigning Super Lig champions, flying into Istanbul on a private jet on 1 September 2026 and signing a five-year deal that ties him to the club through the 2026-27 season and beyond.

A statement deal before the deadline

The transfer was wrapped up just before the window closed, with Galatasaray informing the Public Disclosure Platform (KAP) of an agreement worth a total of €10 million. Porto also secured a 10% share of any future profit should Gul be sold on, underlining how highly the Portuguese side still rate the 22-year-old.

Gul will earn a guaranteed net salary of €1.5 million per year in Istanbul, a clear indication that Galatasaray see him as a central piece of their long-term attacking plan rather than a short-term squad option.

Private jet, fan chants, and instant connection

The scene at Ataturk Airport set the tone. Gul stepped off the private jet to find club officials and a noisy group of supporters waiting. He didn’t just wave and walk through. He grabbed the moment.

Leading fans in a classic Galatasaray chant on the tarmac, the new signing instantly tapped into the club’s emotional core before heading off for his medical examinations. For a player yet to kick a ball at RAMS Park, it was an early show of personality.

His words matched the energy.

"I'm very happy. I'm very excited," Gul said on arrival. "I want to meet the team and our fans as soon as possible. The important thing for me right now is to be here. I'm here now and I'm focused on this."

No talk of settling in slowly. No caveats. Just a clear message: he wants to start immediately.

From Stockholm streets to Istanbul spotlight

Gul’s journey to Galatasaray has never been straightforward. Born and raised in Stockholm to a Turkish father and Swedish mother, he came through Swedish youth systems before making his name at Hammarby IF, where his scoring form attracted attention across Europe.

Porto moved first, signing him in August 2024 on a contract running to 2029. The switch to Portugal gave Gul a taste of top-level European football and hardened him in a more demanding environment, experience Galatasaray now hope to cash in on as they chase domestic and continental success.

His international path has been just as decisive. Gul represented Sweden at Under-19 level, but in November 2024 he chose Turkey for his senior career. That decision was quickly rewarded with a call-up from national team manager Vincenzo Montella for UEFA Nations League fixtures in March 2025, confirming his status as one of the more intriguing forwards of his generation in Turkish football.

Power, presence, and a crowded calendar

Galatasaray’s need is obvious. With the club defending their Super Lig crown and targeting a serious run in Europe, depth in the forward line is not a luxury; it’s a requirement.

Gul arrives billed as a physically strong striker with European pedigree, a player capable of giving the champions a different dimension up front. His presence should ease the burden on the existing forwards and give the coaching staff tactical flexibility across a long, demanding campaign.

Medical tests and paperwork are already done. There will be no gentle easing-in period. Gul is set to join first-team training immediately, thrown straight into the internal battle for minutes and status.

For now, the numbers are clear: €10 million, five years, €1.5 million net per season. The real question hangs over the only figure that matters to Galatasaray fans — how quickly Deniz Gul can turn all that investment into goals at RAMS Park.