Dusan Vlahovic touches down in Istanbul ahead of Beşiktaş move

Dusan Vlahovic arrived in Istanbul on Wednesday to complete his move to Beşiktaş, receiving a raucous welcome from thousands of supporters as the Serbian striker closed in on a high-profile transfer to the Turkish club.

The 26-year-old forward landed at about 7:30 p.m. local time at Atatürk Airport’s General Aviation Terminal on a private aircraft carrying Beşiktaş President Serdal Adalı, Vice President Murat Kılıç and Vlahovic.

Around 3,000 fans gathered outside the terminal to welcome the former Juventus striker, chanting and waving the club’s black-and-white colors as they waited for his arrival.

Vlahovic stopped to greet the supporters before addressing reporters.

“I am very happy. It is a wonderful feeling,” he said. “We want to be champions. I can’t wait to play.”

He also thanked those involved in completing the transfer, including coach Vincenzo Italiano, and expressed his pride at joining a club whose black-and-white colors have featured at important stages of his career.

Vlahovic began his professional career at Partizan before establishing himself as one of Europe’s most sought-after young strikers at Fiorentina. He then moved to Juventus in January 2022 in a major transfer and spent four and a half seasons in Turin.

His arrival at Beşiktaş represents a significant coup for the club, which had been pursuing the striker for an extended period after he became a free agent following the expiration of his Juventus contract.

The forward scored 68 goals in 168 appearances for Juventus in all competitions. His final season in Italy was hampered by injury, including an adductor problem that restricted his playing time.

Vlahovic previously enjoyed some of the most productive football of his career under Italiano at Fiorentina, making the reunion with the Beşiktaş coach an important part of the club’s plans for the Serbian striker.

At the international level, Vlahovic has made 41 appearances for Serbia and scored 16 goals. He represented his country at the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024.

Beşiktaş Vice President Murat Kılıç said the club hoped the arrival of Vlahovic would be the beginning of further major signings.

“If our community stands behind us, we will bring even more stars,” Kılıç said. “Dusan is a world-class star. Today we are living his honor.”

Vlahovic then left the airport in a waiting vehicle and was scheduled to undergo his medical examinations before signing his official contract.

The proposed deal is reported to run through June 2029, with Beşiktaş paying no transfer fee because Vlahovic is a free agent.

Reports in Turkish and Italian media have suggested the package could include a substantial signing-on payment, an annual salary in the region of 8 million to 10 million euros and performance-related bonuses.

The move would give Beşiktaş one of the most recognizable attacking names in the Süper Lig and add another major transfer to an increasingly ambitious summer in Turkish football.

Vlahovic’s arrival also comes during a busy transfer window for the league, with rival clubs making high-profile moves of their own as they seek to strengthen ahead of the new season.

DAILYSABAH