Romano confirms: Chelsea flop makes craziest transfer of the summer

Tom Weber

Updated: 1 Jul 2024 18:06 BST
3 min read

Michy Batshuayi has signed for Galatasaray - from Fenerbahce - according to Fabrizio Romano.

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It is difficult to believe, but the Belgian was still officially on the books at Chelsea just two years ago. A striker with so much talent, Batshuayi never managed to properly settle at Stamford Bridge and ultimately left in 2022 after several loan stints.

His last temporary stay while still a Blues player was at Besiktas. The 30-year-old certainly impressed, scoring 14 goals and notching five assists in 42 outings for the Istanbul side. In fact, Batshuayi left such a strong impression that Fenerbahce made sure he stayed in the metropolis.

The Turkish giants signed him from Chelsea for €3.5 million, with the Stamford Bridge side forced to make a whopping €35.5m loss on the striker. Though he failed to have much of an impact in England, the same can't be said of his time in Turkey.

Batshuayi continued his scoring form on the Asian side of Istanbul, netting a very impressive 44 times in 75 games for Fenerbahce. However, after two seasons, he has now left the club on a free transfer - and his next destination is scarcely believable.

Batshuayi signs for Galatasaray

Already rumoured for a week or two, Fabrizio Romano has now confirmed that Batshuayi has signed a three-year contract with Fenerbahce's hated rivals Galatasaray.

Last season, Galatasaray pipped their city adversaries to the Super Lig title in absolutely stunning fashion, coming out on top despite having lost a game more and posting an inferior goal difference. Fenerbahce were only beaten once last term but Gala won two more games.

Of course, it doesn't need to be mentioned that the rivalry between the two clubs is one of the most heated in all world football, notorious for frequent incidents of violence. What does deserve to be mentioned is just how rare transfers between these two sides really are in the modern era.

Batshuayi has become just the fourth senior player to move directly between the two Istanbul giants since former Arsenal player Colin Kazim-Richards joined Gala from Fener in 2011.