After BVB exit, Salih Özcan set to join top club | OneFootball

Current status: without a club. But that likely won’t remain the case for much longer. On June 30, 2026, Salih Özcan’s (28) time at Borussia Dortmund officially came to an end as well. Now, a move to a top club is drawing closer.

In the summer of 2022, Özcan joined BVB. The Black and Yellows paid just five million euros to 1. FC Köln at the time. Back then, the German-Turk was considered an absolute key player, making a total of 128 appearances for the Billy Goats over six years. He contributed four goals and seven assists. But the defensive midfielder’s main job was to win challenges and recover possession.

He managed that better in Cologne than in Dortmund. While he still made 36 appearances in his first season with the Westphalians, that number decreased year by year afterward. In the first half of the 2024/25 season, Özcan even played on loan for VfL Wolfsburg. However, due to squad shortages, BVB brought him back early from the Auto City.

First stop outside Germany

But now the departure is final. According to information from A Spor, Özcan is on the verge of joining Besiktas Istanbul. The report says the 32-time Turkish international and World Cup participant will sign a three-year contract. New head coach Vincenzo Italiano (48) is said to have strongly pushed for the now former BVB professional.

Photo: IMAGO

The official signing of the new contract is expected to take place shortly. Immediately afterward, the new arrival will travel straight to the club’s training camp in Slovakia. Besiktas is willing to pay well for his services in defensive midfield. According to the report, Özcan will earn a handsome annual salary of 2.5 million euros in Istanbul.

After spells in Cologne, Kiel, Wolfsburg, and Dortmund, Özcan is now set for his first move outside Germany.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.