Benfica have completed the transfer of Orkun Kokcu from Eredivisie champions Feyenoord for a fee worth €30 million. The midfielder has arrived in Lisbon to complete his medical tests in order to be unveiled as a new signing for the club. The deal has now been made official by the club.
The player has agreed a contract until 2028, and has a 25% sell-on clause in his contract. Which means that Feyenoord will be entitled to a quarter of whatever fee that Benfica get for selling the player in the future. The midfielder has also negotiated a €120 million release clause into his contract, the same as Enzo Fernandez, whom he has been brought in to replace.
Several European clubs like Manchester United and Arsenal were in the race to sign the player this summer. But, Benfica have moved fast and have gotten the deal over the line first.
Orkun Kokcu: Benfica’s Enzo Fernandez replacement?
The Turkey international has a very similar profile to that of Enzo Fernandez, who left during the January transfer window as the most expensive Premier League signing in history. The midfielder is now at Chelsea, after impressing the world during the 2022 World Cup with Argentina.
Kokcu operates as a progressive passer, and is very likely to create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates. And as a result, he will be able to play in a similar role to what the Argentine played at Benfica this past season.
In 46 games across all competitions, Kokcu scored 12 goals and provided four assists. Moreover, he also played an important part in helping his side win the Eredivisie title. As a result, he will be a very valuable addition to the team, who will be ambitious about their fortune in the Champions League as well.
As he is only 22 years old, he has plenty of time to develop his game further, whilst also playing in the Champions League. Which means that the club will be able to stick to their business model and sell him for a huge profit in the future once he is even more highly valued on the market.
Nicolas Otamendi renews with Benfica
Amidst rumours that the veteran centre-back could leave as a free agent this summer, Nicolas Otamendi has now renewed his contract with Benfica until 2025. He played an important part in helping the team win the Portuguese league this past season, and will be seeing out the next two seasons with them as well.
