The Süper Lig turned its 2026 summer transfer window into a collection of major international names. The registration period, officially scheduled by the Turkish Football Federation from June 22 through September 4, brought players from the Premier League, Serie A, Ligue 1 and Saudi Arabia. Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş and Trabzonspor were responsible for most of the headline moves.
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The star-studded Süper Lig: all the stars who moved to Turkey in the transfer window
The Süper Lig produced one of Europe’s most eye-catching transfer windows. Mohamed Salah, Rafael Leão, Romelu Lukaku and Dušan Vlahović headline a group of international stars who chose Turkey for the 2026-27 season.
One of the final major deals was Rafael Leão. Galatasaray confirmed the Portugal international’s arrival from AC Milan on August 30 for €38 million and signed him to a four-year contract. The forward left Italy after seven years with Milan, where he helped win the 2021-22 Serie A title.
Fenerbahçe builds a star-heavy squad
Fenerbahçe was one of the most aggressive clubs in the market. In July, it signed Mason Greenwood from Olympique de Marseille for €39 million and added Netherlands defender Nathan Aké, ending his six-season spell at Manchester City.
Another major name arrived in August: Romelu Lukaku. The Belgium striker left Napoli and signed a one-year deal with an option for another season. Fenerbahçe therefore added Belgium’s all-time leading scorer to an attack already strengthened earlier in the window.
Beşiktaş answers with Trossard and Vlahović
Beşiktaş also made major moves. Leandro Trossard left Arsenal and signed a three-year contract with an option for an additional season. The club confirmed an €18 million transfer fee for the Belgium international.
One month later came Dušan Vlahović. The Serbia striker arrived from Juventus and signed through the end of the 2028-29 season, adding another player with recent experience at the highest levels of European soccer.
Salah and Fabinho reunite at Trabzonspor
Perhaps the most surprising move came from Trabzonspor. Mohamed Salah signed a two-year deal after bringing his historic nine-season stay at Liverpool to an end. The Egyptian left England as Liverpool’s third-highest scorer of all time, with 257 goals in 442 appearances.
A few weeks later, Trabzonspor reunited Salah with Fabinho. The Brazilian midfielder joined as a free agent following his spell at Al-Ittihad and also agreed to a two-year contract.
That means eight internationally recognized names —Leão, Greenwood, Aké, Lukaku, Trossard, Vlahović, Salah and Fabinho— moved to the Süper Lig during the 2026 summer window. Their arrivals underline the growing pull of Turkey’s top division and give the 2026-27 season a level of star power rarely seen in the competition.
