Bayer Leverkusen has loaned winger Ernest Poku to Turkish club Besiktas Istanbul for one season. The 22-year-old Dutchman landed in Istanbul on Wednesday morning, where he was greeted by a crowd of fans to finalize his move.
Poku arrived at the airport around 1 AM local time and presented himself to the waiting supporters wearing his new club's jersey. He wore a black Besiktas shirt with the number 17 and his name on the back. As a welcome gift, he received a club scarf. Images of his arrival spread quickly on social media. The loan deal for one year is set, with a subsequent obligatory purchase. This would bind the player to Besiktas for another four years, for a transfer fee of around 25 million euros.
Ernest Poku moved from Dutch Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar to Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2025 for a fee of 10 million euros. In his first season with Die Werkself, the right winger made a total of 45 appearances across all competitions. His last game for Leverkusen was a friendly in Nottingham on August 12, 2026, which ended in a 1:2 defeat. Afterwards, he was not in the squad for the cup opener against Wehen Wiesbaden. The Bayer Leverkusen squad finished the previous Bundesliga season in fifth place with 52 points from 29 games. Their record was 15 wins, seven draws, and seven losses. The goal difference was +20, having scored 59 goals and conceded 39.
The young attacker was thrilled with his reception. "I feel good, I feel fit, I'm ready to start. I can hardly wait to play in front of the fans," Ernest Poku told reporters. Speaking about the waiting fans, he added, "It's nice that they are waiting outside for me. I can't wait to see them." His first words in Turkey signal clear anticipation for the new challenge. Bayer Leverkusen's current league standing and upcoming fixtures can be viewed on our standings page.
Parallel to Poku's departure, another exit from the Leverkusen squad appears imminent. A verbal agreement was reached on Tuesday evening for the transfer of Exequiel Palacios. The 27-year-old defensive midfielder is set to join Ipswich Town in the English Premier League. Once final details are settled, Palacios will fly to England for his medical. Ipswich Town is said to have offered him a contract until the summer of 2030. These developments indicate a phase of squad planning at Bayer Leverkusen, who finished last season 24 points behind champions Bayern Munich.
The departure of Ernest Poku and the potential exit of Exequiel Palacios change the personnel situation at Bayer Leverkusen. Die Werkself must use the remaining time in the transfer window to finalize their squad planning for the new season. The team is currently preparing for its next competitive match, an away game at SV Elversberg on August 29, 2026. All upcoming fixtures are listed on the fixtures page. The current squad composition can be tracked on the squad page. The final five league games of last season ended with the form WWDDD, providing a solid foundation for the upcoming season start.
