How Mallik Wilks is getting on after leaving Sheffield Wednesday - he’s on absolute fire | OneFootball

The 26-year-old plays in Turkey alongside former Rotherham United teammate Jonson Clarke-Harris

Mallik Wilks is having an amazing start to life in Istanbul with Pendikspor after he was released by Sheffield Wednesday at the end of the 24/25 season.

The 26-year-old joined the Turkish second-division side alongside fellow former Rotherham United teammate Jonson Clarke-Harris, and they both signed two-year deals.

Clarke-Harris managed just eight goals in 33 appearances during his disappointing second spell at the Millers, and he's managed one goal in his first four league games in Turkey.

Mallik Wilks is making his mark in Turkey with Pendikspor

Since completing his free transfer to Pendikspor in July, Wilks has been nothing short of exceptional for his new side.

His debut could not have gone better, finding the net against former Super Lig side Bodrum. Although not personally contributing in his second game, Wilks' teammates did enough themselves to beat Bandirmaspor 2-0.

It was his third outing against Erzurumspor that truly showed what he can bring to Turkey, contributing with both a goal and an assist in a 3-3 draw.

Wilks then capped off his remarkable start by getting another assist in a 2-1 win over Sivasspor.

In his first four games, all of which have been starts, Wilks has registered two goals and two assists. Pendikspor are currently fourth in the table and are yet to lose a game.

Mallik Wilks only started five games for Sheffield Wednesday

Wilks' fine form in Turkey stands in stark contrast to his disappointing injury-hit spell in South Yorkshire with the Owls, where he managed just three goals in 42 appearances.

After joining Wednesday from Hull City in the summer of 2022, the forward only made five starts for the club. After signing for the Millers on loan last season, then-boss Steve Evans claimed the player "needs to be loved".

"He needs to be all the things I associated with Mallik when he was a young professional at Leeds United when I was first-team coach there," Evans added.

15 goal contributions at Rotherham ultimately wasn't enough for Wilks to earn a new contract at Wednesday beyond 24/25, and he was among seven players released by the Owls at the end of their deals.

It seems as though this 'love' that Evans mentioned has been found in Turkey.

For a player who has played for six Yorkshire clubs throughout his time in England — Leeds United, Doncaster Rovers, Barnsley, Hull, Wednesday and Rotherham — he may finally be settled away from the region.

Having been named in the League One Team of the Year during Hull's title-winning campaign in 20/21, his 19 goals in 44 league appearances showed his capabilities when operating in the right system for him.

The decision to embrace a new culture and league seems to be paying off for Wilks — and Clarke-Harris — so far. If early performances are anything to go by, the former could become one of the standout players in Turkey's second tier this season.