Official: Fenerbahçe confirm "German brace" with Meyer and Berisha signings
Turkish Super Lig side Fenerbahçe Istanbul confirmed the signings of two German internationals Thursday evening.
Mërgim Berisha was purchased from RB Salzburg while Max Meyer arrived on a free.
The transfer window remains open in Turkey, where the Canaries of Fenerbahçe Istanbul snagged two notable German footballers on Thursday. Current Germany U21 international Mërgim Berisha arrives on an outright purchase from RB Salzburg. A transfer fee was not disclosed, but Berisha's latest estimate market value stands at €10 million in the transfermarkt listings.
Mërgim Berisha was purchased from RB Salzburg while Max Meyer arrived on a free.
Turkish clubs can still purchase players through September 8th. All European football clubs can naturally pick up free agents if they so desire. Fenerbahçe opted to make it a German "scorer's brace" of sorts by doing so with former Schalke prospect Max Meyer.
The 25-year-old Meyer, most recently released after an underwhelming six-month-stint at 1. FC Köln, could have been procured any time. The Turkish club nevertheless opted to get the deal done immediately, presumably so that Meyer could be included in their Europa League squad by tonight's deadline.
Meyer's career trajectory has gone south since he departed Schalke 04 in 2018 to join Crystal Palace. At the time, the Oberhausen native had been capped four times for Joachim Löw's Nationalmannschaft. After three seasons spent mostly on the bench in South London, Meyer returned to the continent on a free to play for Köln in January.
The 23-year-old Berisha (no relation to former Salzburg and Düsseldorf attacking midfielder Valon Berisha) has been capped 13 times for the Germany U21 side. After sitting out the first group-stage game, he made Stefan Kuntz's starting XI in the remaining five matches during the squads run to the UEFA U-21 European Championship crown.
After Jerome Boateng's singing with Lyon yesterday, there remain a handful of valuable German players without a footballing contract. It has been rumored that former national team defender Shkodran Mustafi will sign with La Liga outfit Leante UD before the day is out.
Marko Marin, Toni Leistner, and Gonzalo Castro remain without contracts after most clubs have concluded their summer transfer business.
Meyer signed a two-year-deal today whilst Berisha inked a four-year-contract.
Yeni transferimiz Mergim Berisha, @AcibademSaglik Altunizade Hastanesi’nde sağlık kontrolünden geçti.
— Fenerbahçe SK (@Fenerbahce) September 2, 2021
👉 https://t.co/7oy8RtAO4u pic.twitter.com/xckFCiBcre
Yeni transferimiz Max Meyer, @AcibademSaglik Altunizade Hastanesi’nde sağlık kontrolünden geçti.
— Fenerbahçe SK (@Fenerbahce) September 2, 2021
👉 https://t.co/pWyIW8dDdP pic.twitter.com/L9linwuWuX