Forward Oh Hyun-gyu (25), who has been responsible for the forefront of Korean football, has taken the iconic No. 9 of Turkish powerhouse Besiktas JK and stands at a new starting line. He also shared his thoughts on joining in Korean.
Besiktas released Oh Hyun-gyu's Korean interview through the club's official channel on the 7th (Korea time). Oh Hyun-gyu left Belgian KRC Genk and headed to Istanbul. Besiktas announced that, along with the transfer agreement, the contract period is through the 2028-2029 season.
The reported base transfer fee is 14 million euros (about 24.2 billion won), and with additional options tied to performance, the aggregate could rise to 15 million euros. This is one of the largest amounts in the club's history.
This move was a series of difficult choices. Interest from Premier League clubs continued during the winter market, and names of several teams, including Fulham and Leeds United, were actually mentioned.
As recruitment priorities changed and negotiations did not progress, Besiktas, which seized the opportunity, achieved results with an active offer. Besiktas, which needed reinforcement up front, is reported to have observed Oh Hyun-gyu for a long time.
Oh Hyun-gyu said, "It's so comfortable to speak in Korean," and "First of all, I am really happy to come to a big club like Besiktas, which is also counted among Europe's top teams. I want to say thank you to the chairman and all the staff who gave me this opportunity, the scouting people, the director who believed in me and brought me here, and the agent and family who gave me the greatest support."
With this transfer, Oh Hyun-gyu became the first Korean player in Besiktas' 122-year history. He said, "I think Korean fans must have been waiting a lot. I'm happy to share this good news, even at this late hour. I will do my best and train hard so that I can score many goals on the pitch and contribute to this team, becoming an important and necessary player."
Finally, he expressed his determination for the new challenge, saying, "I will definitely become a player loved by Besiktas fans."
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