'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The departures of Dirk Kuyt and Raul Meireles to Fenerbahçe S.K. highlighted the well-trodden path of unwanted Premier League footballers joining Turkish sides in recent years. Unlike earlier times when players joined smaller clubs but stayed in the league, more and more players from all over the world are now choosing to end their careers with a last stint in Turkey. Following are the players from Barclay’s premier League, who joined Turkish Super Lig in recent years after finding first-team opportunities harder to come by….
1) Scott Carson (West Bromwich Albion, 2008-2011; Bursaspor, 2011- )
Carson spent three seasons with WBA after joining from Liverpool, where he had been a frustrated reserve. His final season at Hawthorns was difficult as he lost his place to Boaz Myhill before winning it back late in the campaign.
He suffered relegation with the Baggies but stuck with them and helped them bounce straight back, before being made club captain after the departure of Jonathan Greening. He made 110 appearances for the Baggies, but endured a mixed last season with the Premier League club. He left WBA quoting “I’m just looking forward to a new start now.”
Trending
2) Johan Elmander (Bolton Wanderers, 2008-2011; Galatasaray, 2011- )
Elmander signed for Bolton on a three-year deal from French club Toulouse in 2008 and scored 18 goals in 82 starts. The 29-year-old Sweden striker’s contract at the Reebok Stadium expired at the end of the 2010-11 season.
Elmander made the switch after he failed to agree a new deal with the club and left the Reebok Stadium as a free agent. He moved to Galatasaray who endured a disappointing campaign as they finished eighth in Turkish Super Lig.
3) Emmanuel Eboué (Arsenal, 2005-2011; Galatasaray 2011- )
Eboué signed for the Gunners from Belgian side Beveren in January 2005, made a total of 214 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions during his time with the Club. Eboué found himself down in the pecking order at Emirates in his in his final top-flight campaign when he managed just 13 league appearances and his exit was seemed to be imminent.
At the start of the 2011–12 season Eboué lost his squad number to Gervinho, who was given #27 shirt upon his arrival, which left Eboué’s future at the club uncertain. On 16 August 2011, Eboué completed a move to Turkish club Galatasaray.
4) Diomansy Kamara (Fulham, 2007-2011; Eskisehirspor, 2011- )
On 9 July 2007, Kamara signed a four-year deal with Fulham for £6 million and the move was a club record sale from West Bromwich Albion. He didn’t get the chances he craved for at the Craven Cottage. In the four seasons he was at Fulham, he played 52 times, scoring 12 goals. In his final season, he was loaned to Celtic & then to Leicester City.
At the start of the 2011-12 Kamara was one of unwanted players at the cottage. On 24 June 2011, it was announced by the club that Kamara would not be renewing his contract and had left the club to sign with Eskisehirspor.
5) Joseph Yobo (Everton, 2002-2012; Fenerbahçe, 2012- )
Yobo joined the Toffees from French club Marseille, initially on loan, in July 2002 as manager David Moyes’ first signing, making a permanent £3.5million switch the following summer. Yobo made over 250 appearances for the Merseyside club.
Distin, Jagielka and John Heitinga had been selected over Yobo, confining him to the bench for most matches. Yobo enjoyed thriving two years on loan at the Turkish giants from 2010 to 2012, but attempts to make the move permanent have long been frustrated by squabbling over terms. At the first week of August 2012, Yobo re-signed for Fenerbahçe once again, but this time it was on a permanent basis on a three year contract
6) Raul Meireles (Chelsea, 2011-2012; Fenerbahçe 2012- )
A season ago, on transfer deadline day, Meireles signed for Chelsea on a four-year deal for £12m. Since then, he struggled to hit top form and was in and out of the starting line-up, especially after Andre Villas-Boas was sacked as manager in March. Meireles was at Stanford Bridge for just a season, but during his time at Chelsea, he won UEFA Champions League & FA Cup.
He featured both at the base of midfield & as a creative hub behind a lone forward. During his reign at Chelsea, he made 32 appearances, scoring 2 times. On 3 September, 2012 it was confirmed that Chelsea agreed to sell Meireles to Turkish giants Fenerbahçe for €10 million.
7) Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool, 2006-2012; Fenerbahçe 2012- )
Kuyt spent 6 seasons with Premier League club Liverpool. He racked up 285 appearances during his time in England, netting 71 goals in the process in addition to 38 assists. He found first-team opportunities harder to come by last season, making just 22 league starts, while he was a substitute in 5 of Liverpool’s last 9 matches.
At the start of June 2012, Fenerbahçe declared on their official website that Kuyt had signed for them on a three-year contract. The price was €1 million, the release clause price in his contract.
