Congolese international striker Cédric Bakambu signed on Sunday with Galatasaray, after an express stint at Al-Nasr in the United Arab Emirates, the Turkish club announced. Top scorer in the Greek championship last season with Olympiakos (18 goals), the 32-year-old former Marseillais signed on June 29 at Al-Nasr, a Dubai club.
But his experience in the Gulf was short-lived: the Congolese international (42 games, 15 goals) joined Galatasaray for two seasons, the Istanbul team, reigning Turkish champions, said in a statement. “The player will receive a salary of 1.5 million euros per season,” detailed Galatasaray, specifying that the transfer amounted to 700,000 euros.
The Franco-Congolese should rub shoulders with Argentinian Mauro Icardi in attack, whose final transfer from Paris SG to Galatasaray after a season on loan is expected very soon, according to the Turkish press. Galatasaray also announced on Sunday that it had started negotiations with Ivorian international striker Wilfried Zaha, a former Crystal Palace striker.
After four years in China, at Beijing Guoan, Cédric Bakambu joined OM in January 2022. But he quickly became undesirable, the fault of a high salary and a weak offensive contribution. The native of Vitry-sur-Seine, in the Paris suburbs, has already played in the Süper Lig under the colors of Bursaspor during the 2014-2015 season, after having enjoyed the heyday of Sochaux (2010-2014). He then played for two and a half seasons in Villarreal, Spain.