Foreign Player Rule Crisis Among the Big Four

A striking picture has emerged regarding compliance with the foreign player rule among the Super Lig's four biggest clubs. Aside from Galatasaray, all three of the other major clubs currently exceed the federation's foreign player limit with their existing squads and will need to significantly trim their rosters ahead of the new season.

Here is where each club stands:

Galatasaray (Compliant): With 13/14 total foreign players, 10/10 in the base quota and 3/4 in the young foreign player (YB) quota, Galatasaray remain within the limits. Davinson Sanchez, Ismail Jakobs, Lucas Torreira, Roland Sallai, Victor Osimhen, Victor Nelsson, Wilfried Singo, Gabriel Sara, Leroy Sane and Mario Lemina occupy the base quota, while Elias Jelert, Renato Nhaga and Lesley Ugochukwu fall under the young foreign player category. The yellow-and-reds have no need to part with any players.

Trabzonspor (In Breach – 3 Over): Exceeding the limit with 17/14 total, the Black Sea club also has a two-player overage in the base quota at 12/10 and a one-player overage in the young foreign quota at 5/4. Paul Onuachu, Andre Onana, Tim Jabol-Folcarelli, Ernest Muci, Sidny Lopes Cabral, Stefan Savic, Benjamin Bouchouari, Batista Mendy, Denis Draguș, John Lundstram, Ruslan Malinovskyi and Mohamed Salah are in the base quota, while Noah Saviolo, Arseniy Batagov, Chibuike Nwaiwu, Wagner Pina and Rene Mitongo hold young foreign status. The club's management needs to part with a total of three players to fall within the limit.

Besiktas (In Breach – 3 Over): Exceeding the total limit at 17/14, Besiktas' base quota shows a notable overage of four at 14/10, though the young foreign quota remains within limits at 3/4. Tiago Djalo, Amir Hadziahmetovic, Alexander Nubel, Hyeon-gyu Oh, Jean Onana, Vaclav Cerny, Emmanuel Agbadou, Felix Uduokhai, Wilfred Ndidi, Amir Murillo, Joao Mario, Milot Rashica and Moatasem Al-Musrati are in the base quota, while Elan Ricardo, Junior Olaitan and Kassoum Ouattara hold young foreign status. The club needs to release three players to reach the limit.

Fenerbahce (In Breach – 10 Over): The most severe breach among the big four belongs to Fenerbahce, exceeding the total limit by 10 at 24/14, with a seven-player overage in the base quota at 17/10 and a three-player overage in the young foreign quota at 7/4. N'Golo Kante, Nathan Ake, Ederson, Anderson Talisca, Anthony Musaba, Fred, Mason Greenwood, Rodrigo Becao, Dominik Livakovic, Nelson Semedo, Milan Skriniar, Diego Carlos, Jayden Oosterwolde, Sofyan Amrabat, Marco Asensio, Vedat Muriqi and Matteo Guendouzi occupy the base quota, while Dorgeles Nene, Archie Brown, Sidiki Cherif, Omar Fayed, Ognjen Mimovic, Abdou Aziz Fall and Amara Diouf hold young foreign status. Fenerbahce's management will need to part ways with a total of 10 players before the window closes to reach the limit — the most extensive squad overhaul among the big four.

Image: Cumhuriyet