Fenerbahçe has secured the signing of french midfielder Mattéo Guendouzi from Lazio, in a move that signals the Turkish club’s ambition for the Süper Lig title.The 26-year-old has agreed to a four-and-a-half-year contract, becoming Fenerbahçe’s most expensive signing to date with a reported fee of €28 million plus €2 million in bonuses. the acquisition, finalized today, adds a seasoned international presence to the squad as thay compete in the second half of the season.
A four-and-a-half-year contract has been signed.
©TM/IMAGO
Fenerbahçe has officially completed the transfer of 26-year-old French midfielder Mattéo Guendouzi from Italian Serie A side Lazio. The French international has signed a contract with the club that runs for four and a half years. The signing ceremony, held at the club building, was attended by Board Member responsible for Football, Ertan Torunoğulları, Football A.Ş. Board Members Ömer Topbaş and Turgay Terzi, and Sporting Director Devin Özek.
TRANSFER FEE CONFIRMED
While Fenerbahçe has not released official figures regarding the player’s salary and transfer fee, reports from European and Turkish media indicate a fee of €28 million plus €2 million in bonuses. The reports also suggest the French footballer will earn an annual salary of between €4-5 million. The only detail shared by the club regarding the contract is its duration of four and a half years. This transfer marks Fenerbahçe’s most expensive signing in club history, with Guendouzi becoming the fourth-most expensive transfer in Süper Lig history.
PLAYER PROFILE
Guendouzi’s arrival breaks Fenerbahçe’s previous transfer record of €22.5 million, held by Kerem Aktürkoğlu. Youssef En-Nesyri previously held the second-highest transfer fee at €19.5 million, while Dorgeles Nene (€18 million) and Cengiz Ünder (€15 million) rounded out the top five. The French midfielder is now the club’s second-most valuable transfer, trailing only Jhon Duran in terms of overall value. He joins an exclusive group as the fourth-most expensive signing in Süper Lig history, behind Victor Osimhen, Wilfried Singo, and Orkun Kökçü.
Following the signing ceremony, Fenerbahçe Board Member responsible for Football, Ertan Torunoğulları, stated, “We will create a team that fights on the pitch, battles until the end, and earns the applause of our fans even in defeat. We believe Matteo will be an important part of this team and will make a significant contribution on the road to the championship. Transfers require patience, and with patience, we will build the fighting team our community dreams of.”
New signing Mattéo Guendouzi also expressed his excitement about joining Fenerbahçe, saying, “I really wanted to be here. This is a very big day for me and my family. Fenerbahçe is one of the biggest clubs in the world and has a great history. I know the atmosphere created by our fans. I can’t wait to play my first game in front of them. I hope we can win victories and trophies together.”
The 25-year-old has played for Arsenal, Marseille, Hertha Berlin, and Lazio throughout his career and currently has a market value of €28 million, peaking at €50 million in 2019. Guendouzi is versatile, capable of playing as a central midfielder, defensive midfielder, and attacking midfielder. He has made a total of 374 appearances in his club career, scoring 19 goals and providing 28 assists. Guendouzi has also earned 14 caps for the French national team, scoring two goals.
Aniello Luciano from Transfermarkt Italy provided an assessment of the French midfielder’s key attributes. Luciano stated, “Guendouzi could certainly be a very good addition for Fenerbahçe. He was one of the most interesting midfielders in Serie A during his time at Lazio, and he stood out particularly for his physical strength, dynamism, and ability to drive the ball forward. However, he didn’t quite reach the level of quality that was expected of him. He came closest to this expectation during Marco Baroni’s time as coach. This is certainly no coincidence, as Baroni was the coach who positioned Guendouzi tactically in the most effective way. In a two-man midfield, he was more effective when playing alongside another defensive midfielder rather than as a playmaker. This role enhanced his defensive contribution and allowed him to use his energy more effectively. While he has shown consistency in different positions and roles at times, he performed at his best in this setup.”
“Overall, he hasn’t fully lived up to the profile of the modern midfielder that investing clubs expected. However, he remains a useful player in matches where you need to defend, raise the tempo, and when the game gets tougher. Thanks to his technical ability, he can maintain his passing quality. He sometimes struggles to take on a leadership role. He has shortcomings in mentally managing the game, guiding his teammates, and taking responsibility in critical moments. However, when used within the right system, he will be a midfielder who can make a significant contribution to the team.”
