Cenk Özkacar has completed a permanent transfer to Trabzonspor from Valencia, with the Turkish Süper Lig club paying a reported €1.75 million to secure the 25-year-old centre-back’s services.
The Turkey international spent last season on loan at Bundesliga side Köln, making 25 league appearances during his temporary stay in Germany. Despite featuring regularly throughout the campaign and demonstrating his capabilities at that level, Köln opted against triggering their clause to retain him permanently at €2 million. This decision—which would have cost the German club marginally more than Trabzonspor have now paid to Valencia—paved the way for the defender’s return to his homeland, where he will join a club with ambitions of competing at the top end of Turkish football.
Schalke interest and alternative targets
Bundesliga newcomers Schalke had identified Özkacar as a priority defensive reinforcement as they prepare for the challenges of top-flight football following their promotion. The Gelsenkirchen club were keen to add his proven experience to their squad, viewing him as an ideal candidate to bolster their backline, but the player instead chose to join Trabzonspor and return to the country of his birth.
With Özkacar now bound for Turkey, Schalke continue to assess other options to strengthen their defensive resources. The club are reportedly monitoring Brighton’s Igor Julio and former Augsburg defender Felix Uduokhai as they seek additional cover and competition for places ahead of the new campaign.
Historic homecoming for international defender
The transfer represents a notable milestone in Özkacar’s career, as the nine-time international will finally experience domestic football in his native country. Despite earning regular call-ups to the Turkish national team, the centre-back has yet to feature in the Süper Lig. He moved from Altay SK to Lyon as a 20-year-old, stepping straight from Turkey’s second division to Ligue 1 rather than establishing himself in the top flight.
After initially finding success at Valencia following his arrival from France, Özkacar spent the past two campaigns away from the Mestalla on loan spells before securing this permanent departure. Trabzonspor will hope his blend of Bundesliga and La Liga experience proves valuable in their domestic and continental ambitions, while Valencia move forward having definitively concluded a chapter that had already seen the defender spend two seasons away from the club.