Galatasaray Signs Deniz Gul from Porto in Last-Minute Deal
Galatasaray pushed their summer business right to the edge of the deadline – and got their man. Turkish international striker Deniz Gul has completed his move from FC Porto to the reigning champions, arriving in Istanbul with the kind of fanfare that suggests expectations will be anything but modest.
The 22-year-old touched down at Ataturk Airport on 1 September 2026 on a private jet, stepping out to a wall of noise from waiting Galatasaray supporters. Club officials met him on the tarmac; the fans did the rest. Gul joined in, leading a classic Galatasaray chant before he had even set foot in the training ground.
From there, the move moved quickly from spectacle to paperwork. Galatasaray informed the Public Disclosure Platform (KAP) that they had agreed a total transfer fee of 10 million euros with Porto. The Portuguese side also secured a 10% share of any future profit should Gul be sold on, a clear sign they believe his value has room to grow.
Gul signed a five-year contract beginning with the 2026-27 season. He will earn a guaranteed net annual salary of 1.5 million euros during his stay in Istanbul, a long-term commitment from both player and club as Galatasaray reshape their forward line.
Once the formalities at the airport were over, Gul headed straight for his medical examinations. Even in those first brief moments in front of the cameras, he made it clear what this move means to him.
"I'm very happy. I'm very excited," he said. "I want to meet the team and our fans as soon as possible. The important thing for me right now is to be here. I'm here now and I'm focused on this."
For Galatasaray, this is more than a routine attacking reinforcement. Born and raised in Stockholm to a Turkish father and Swedish mother, Gul carries a layered football story. He came through Swedish youth systems and broke through at Hammarby IF, where his goal-scoring form drew scouts from across Europe. Porto moved first, securing him in August 2024 on a contract running to 2029.
His development accelerated in Portugal, where he picked up top-level European experience and honed the physical, aggressive style that has made him an intriguing option for club and country. That background now feeds into a Galatasaray side preparing for another title defence and a demanding European campaign.
The international chapter of his career has already taken a twist. Gul represented Sweden at Under-19 level before opting to commit his senior future to Turkey in November 2024. The decision was quickly rewarded: national team manager Vincenzo Montella called him up for UEFA Nations League fixtures in March 2025, bringing him into the senior setup.
Now he arrives in Istanbul as a full Turkey international, returning to Turkish football with the expectation that he will add power, mobility and depth to the champions’ attack. His profile fits a squad that needs fresh legs and variety up front as the fixtures pile up.
With his medical completed and the paperwork signed off, Gul will join first-team training immediately under the Galatasaray coaching staff. The plan is simple: integrate him fast, give him the platform, and let his adaptation to the team’s rhythm dictate how quickly he can push into the starting XI.
His arrival sharpens competition in the forward positions at a crucial moment in the season’s build-up. Galatasaray now have another option who has already tasted European football’s intensity and carries the hunger of a player stepping into his prime years.
The next step is clear. Gul must turn the noise of his arrival into something more lasting: a debut, goals, and a place as a central figure in Galatasaray’s 2026-27 campaign.
