Turkish Süper Lig champions Galatasaray have landed German winger Leroy Sane, a marquee signing that underscores the membership’s ambitions to shake Europe and tighten their grip on home dominance.
Sane, 29, arrived in Istanbul on Thursday to finalize his sensational free switch from Bayern Munich.
Touching down at Istanbul Atatürk Airport aboard a personal jet, he was met by a raucous sea of yellow and purple – Galatasaray ultras chanting, waving flags, and setting off flares in scenes extra becoming for a title win than a summer time signing.
Sane was clearly moved.
Moments after rising from the terminal, he joined within the conventional “üçlü” chant, immediately connecting with the supporters. “I felt the energy,” he stated later. “The fans, the passion – I couldn’t ignore it.”
That ardour had first caught his consideration two seasons earlier. In 2023, whereas taking part in for Bayern Munich in a Champions League conflict at Rams Park, Sane skilled what he now calls a turning level.
“It was one of the loudest atmospheres I’ve ever played in,” he recalled. “It stayed with me. So when Galatasaray came calling, it just felt right.”
The membership formally confirmed the talks with a submitting to Türkiye’s Public Disclosure Platform (KAP): “Professional footballer Leroy Aziz Sane’s transfer negotiations with our club have officially commenced.”
What adopted was a rigorously orchestrated operation. Sporting director Abdullah Kavukcu, coach Okan Buruk, and membership president Dursun Özbek every performed key roles in wooing the German worldwide, who turned down different suitors throughout Europe.
“I had options,” Sane admitted. “But Galatasaray stood out. They showed real intent. The club’s stature, the energy around it – everything aligned.”
While the medical and remaining paperwork stay, Sane’s signing is all however sealed. Contract size and wage particulars stay below wraps, although his Bayern deal expires July 1, which means the Istanbul giants pays no switch charge – a rare coup for a participant of his pedigree.
Career constructed on velocity and silverware
Born in Essen in 1996, Sane has left a path of dazzled defenders from Gelsenkirchen to Manchester and Munich.
He burst onto the scene with Schalke 04, making 57 appearances and scoring 13 objectives between 2014 and 2016.
That promise earned him a transfer to Manchester City, the place below Pep Guardiola’s system, he flourished: 135 video games, 39 objectives, 45 assists, and two Premier League titles.
In 2020, Sane returned residence to affix Bayern Munich. Over 5 seasons, he lifted three Bundesliga titles and a Champions League crown, racking up 48 objectives and 50 assists in 174 matches.
And now, Galatasaray.
What Sane brings to the Lions
Under coach Okan Buruk, Galatasaray is constructing one thing formidable. Fresh off back-to-back league titles, the Lions are hungry for European respect – and Sane often is the catalyst.
His versatility on each wings, eye for purpose, and elite expertise make him a harmful addition alongside the likes of Mauro Icardi and Victor Osimhen. He provides depth, sure, but additionally one thing tougher to measure: perception.
The membership’s supporters appear to comprehend it. X exploded with pleasure. “Game-changer,” learn one publish. “A signing that says we belong at Europe’s top table,” stated one other.
The Turkish press has additionally hailed the transfer as a masterstroke, praising the board’s ambition in luring a participant nonetheless in his prime, with out spending a cent on a charge.
Sane is anticipated to endure a routine medical earlier than placing pen to paper. An official unveiling might comply with inside days, doubtlessly in entrance of a packed crowd at Rams Park.
Source: www.dailysabah.com