Brighton has made some interesting moves during the English Premier League off-season this summer. There have been some notable transfers, including the additions of Yankuba Minteh from Newcastle, Mats Wieffer from Feyenoord, Ibrahim Osman from Nordsjaelland, and Malick Yalcouye from IFK Goteborg.
These transfers all look to shore up the squad and provide a very different look to The Seagulls compared to the 2024-24 season. In addition to these transfers, a range of loans ended, including Deniz Undav, Steven Alzate, and Adrian Mazilu.
Despite this flurry of action, Brighton is still making moves, and it’s been reported that we have shown keen interest in Turkish left-back Ferdi Kadioglu.
Kadioglu has been a consistent player in the Turkish Super League, but he really made an impact and announced himself on the global stage with his performances in Euro 2024.
Below, we look at his current career. Let’s explore why he’s so highly recruited by The Seagulls, how he could fit into the team, and more.
What do we know about Kadioglu?
If you want to check out Kadioglu for sports betting prospects, you will find him currently on live betting sites in the Turkish Super League section.
He’s available to place outright bets on for Fenerbahce, prop bets for him to score, or other things like corners and yellow cards.
Indeed, the Turkish Super League coverage is usually fantastic at most live betting sites. We’ve dissected his previous club play and international play below.
Career beginnings at NEC Nijmegen
He played from 2016-2018 with NEC in the Eredivisie, totalling 61 appearances and 11 goals. The team was relegated to the lower Netherlands league, but Kadioglu was still an important squad member and played in their playoff matches and most regular season games.
Improved Performance with Fenerbahce
In 2018, he signed with Fenerbahçe and still plays for them to this day. His 2023-24 season was his strongest yet, and he continued to be a starter for the squad and played a prominent role in their Turkish Super League campaign.
Attracting Attention at Euro 2024
Kadioglu was born in the Netherlands and played for the U16, 17, 17, 19, and 21 Netherlands squads, making 10 appearances in total.
However, as his father was Turkish, he was also eligible for the Turkish international squad and has since chosen to represent them. He played for them in Euro 2024 when his talent started to be noticed by EPL clubs.
Trade rumours and potential barriers to Brighton signing
Brighton has been interested in Kadioglu for a long time. It’s reported that our scouting department has been checking on the Turkish left-back long before Euro 2024.
With extensive scouting, they should be able to see how he can fit into the squad and the impact he can make.
In terms of potential transfers, it’s rumoured that The Seagulls will be putting in a €30 million bid for the youngster to Fenerbahce.
If this were to happen, it would be their third-largest signing of the off-season (Yankuba Minteh €35 million, and Mats Wieffer €30 million).
However, Brighton is not the only English Premier League club interested in signing this young left-back. It’s been reported that Manchester United is also linked with Fenerbahce and was in transfer talks earlier in the summer.
He would be part of an overhaul for the Red’s defensive line up and could add some pace and attacking flair and strengthen their defensive capabilities.
Despite Brighton and Manchester United’s interest, nothing has been official yet. Indeed, the little insight we’ve gained from rumours and talks with Kadioglu himself make it seem like a summer transfer will not happen.
He’s expressed his contentment with the club. Although he’s said he is open to a move to the EPL, he also wants to respect Fenerbahçe’s new manager, Jose Mourinho, who stated Kadioglu will be a crucial player in the squad.
So, yes, The Seagulls are planning to place a €30 million bid for the left-back, but we don’t think that this transfer will materialise in its current form. This is also considering that offers of €35 million have previously been made and turned down.
What impact would Kadioglu make for Brighton?
If Brighton somehow managed to pull off this transfer and persuade Kadioglu to move to greener pastures, he could certainly make an impact for the club. Current left-back trustees include Pervis Estupinan, Valentin Barco, and Imari Samuels.
There is plenty of opportunity for Kadioglu to slot right into the starting line up and take over from the 26-year-old Ecuadorian Estupinan.
It would give Brighton more opportunities at the left-back position and mean they have two more experienced players instead of relying on the younger Barco and Samuels (20 and 21 respectively) as backups.
Kadioglu has proven that he has plenty of flair and can make runs down the left flank, but his defence is excellent.
He could be a bulwark when the team is back peddling or a threat when pushing forward or counterattacking.
The Seagulls would have to overcome interest in Kadioglu by Manchester United
The interest in Ferdi Kadioglu certainly has potential, and it will be intriguing to see if The Seagulls can outbid Manchester United, which is also keen on signing the Turkish left-back.
If Brighton is successful, he could be a fantastic addition to the squad at left back along with their other. Still, he is also versatile and can potentially be employed in other defensive or midfield positions.
Seeing as Brighton scouts have monitored his play extensively, including his awesome performances in Euro 2024, it’s clear that they think he will fit well into the squad and help with the club’s Premier League aspirations.
Perhaps with Kadioglu at the left-back position, the Seagulls could make a concerted effort to push into the top half of the table and even towards European qualifications.
