The former Turkish champion, Başakşehir, currently facing relegation struggles, has a reason to uplift its fans with exciting news. The club is now part of the City Football Group, which also manages the renowned Manchester City. According to Turkish media outlet Fanatik, the City Group has been in discreet discussions with Başakşehir and has finalized an agreement to acquire the club. Reportedly, Başakşehir has already received an initial payment as part of the share sale, with an official announcement of this significant transaction anticipated soon.
City Football Group’s portfolio includes impressive teams like Manchester City, New York City, Melbourne City, Yokohama F. Marinos, Montevideo City Torque, Girona FC, Sichuan Jiuniu, Mumbai City FC, Lommel SK, ES Troyes AC, Palermo, Bahia, and Club Bolivar. With their latest expansion into Turkey, they have selected Başakşehir, a former champion and one of only six Turkish teams to have won the title, alongside Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, Beşiktaş, Trabzonspor, and Bursa.
This acquisition marks another significant foreign investment in Turkish football. Recently, Danish company Sport Republic purchased a 70 percent stake in Turkish first league club Göztepe. Rasmus Ankersen, owner of Sport Republic and also of England’s Southampton, was the first foreign investor in Turkish sports. Başakşehir, though founded in 1990 and a favorite of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, often remains in the shadow of city rivals such as Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, and Beşiktaş. This new partnership with City Football Group could herald a transformative period for the club.
