Fenerbahçe agree deal with Manchester City Dutch defender Nathan Aké

The yellow-navy club officially signed a contract with the experienced defender Nathan Aké, who played for Premier League side Manchester City, following transfer talks as part of the preparations for the new season. With this transfer, Fenerbahçe added a defender recognized for his performance in major leagues of European football and experienced on the international stage to its squad. While Nathan Aké's transfer to Fenerbahçe was met with excitement by Turkish football fans, the experience and leadership quality the player would bring to the team were among the prominent expectations of the technical staff. After the completion of the signing ceremony and health checks, the club finalized the details of the contract and the player's joining process in the official statement made to KAP. This development was interpreted as one of the most important transfer moves made by Fenerbahçe to strengthen its championship claim for the new season.

Nathan Aké, who joined Manchester City in 2020, managed to draw attention with his high performance during his time in England. The 31-year-old footballer, who became one of the indispensable defenders of the team and won the trust of the coaches during his time wearing the Manchester City jersey, played in important matches in challenging tournaments such as the Premier League and the Champions League. Aké, who experienced the joy of winning 12 cups in England and internationally with Manchester City, spent one of the most successful periods of his career. The successful player, who is also among the indispensable players of the Netherlands National Team, had the pride of representing his country in international tournaments by sweating the national team jersey. Among the factors Fenerbahçe highlighted most in this transfer were Aké's adaptation to the high tempo and physical struggle of the Premier League and bringing this experience to the Süper Lig.

In the public statement made by Fenerbahçe Club, it was stated that Nathan Aké successfully passed his health checks, the medical process was completed, and signatures were signed. It was expressed that Aké will join the team for the pre-season camp to be held in Austria to meet his new teammates and adapt to the technical director's tactical system. It was announced that after following the player's permit and visa procedures, the pre-camp preparations will be completed and Aké's integration process into the team will begin. The star player aims to bring his physical condition to the highest level with the training he will do in Austria and be ready for the opening matches of the new season with the team. Technical director Jose Mourinho emphasized that the solidity an experienced name like Aké would bring to the defensive line is of great importance for a safe start to the season.

Nathan Aké's football career was shaped by the periods he spent in the established infrastructure of the Netherlands, and he grew up there and transferred to world-famous clubs. Aké, who took his first steps in football at ADO Den Haag and Feyenoord academies, transferred to English giant Chelsea in 2011 and developed his career in various age categories. Aké, who signed upper-level successes with the Chelsea jersey, won the UEFA Europa League cup in the 2012-2013 season, marking his first major success in his career. Aké, who wanted to keep his successful performance at the top level constantly, found the opportunity to play regularly on loan at Reading, Watford, and Bournemouth teams to complete his development. These loan periods, especially his performance at Bournemouth, proved that he was a consistent defender in the Premier League and triggered his permanent transfer.

Aké's transfer to Bournemouth with his license in 2017 was a turning point in his career and ensured his consolidation in the Premier League. His consistent and effective performance at Bournemouth put him on the transfer list of a giant team like Manchester City in 2020, and he moved to City for a high transfer fee of approximately 45 million Euro. Aké, who took his performance to the peak during the Manchester City period, experienced the joy of winning the Premier League championship 6 times in total under Chelsea and Manchester City jerseys. Deepening his experience in the league by playing in 253 Premier League matches in total, Aké also gained great experience by playing 33 matches in the UEFA Champions League, the most prestigious club tournament in Europe. Aiming to reflect this rich experience on the pitch under the Fenerbahçe jersey and achieve new successes in the Süper Lig with the value he will add to the team.