Erhun Oztumer may have to check his surroundings several times over the coming season as having spent 2020/21 struggling against the likes of Swindon and Wigan in a miserable relegation battle, the former Bristol Rovers midfielder could be lining up against Turkish giants Fenerbahce, Galatasaray and Besiktas.
After his loan with Bristol Rovers ended following the Gas' relegation into League Two, Oztumer's contract wasn't extended by Charlton Athletic and he left The Valley last week on a free transfer.
The 30-year-old has now been snapped up by Fatih Karagumruk, who played in the Turkish top-flight, and his teammates next season include former Liverpool striker Fabio Borini, Argentina international and ex-Milan midfielder Lucas Biglia and Italian goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano, who's been capped six times by the Azzurri.
It represents a significant upgrade for the Londonder, who is of Turkisn and Cypriot descent but who last played in Turkey with Uskudar Anadolu in 2012 before moving to England where he rose up the pyramid and represented Dulwich Hamlet, Peterborough United, Walsall, Bolton, Charlton and Rovers.
Unfortunately Oztumer's time in Bristol was not a particularly memorable one as the 30-year-old made just 10 starts under Ben Garner, Paul Tisdale and Joey Barton after signing on loan in October.
There was considerable excitement around the arrival of the mercurial playmaker and he looked bright for a couple of months, delivering his best performance in the blue and white quarters in the 4-2 win at AFC Wimbledon under Tisdale.
But after contracting Covid-19 in December it knocked him out of his rhythm and he rarely looked the same player as he increasingly became a peripheral figure on matchdays.
Fatih Karagumruk are based in central Istanbul and play at the 76,000-capacity Ataturk Olympic Stadium. They finished last season eighth in the Turkish Super Lig, five points outside the European qualification places.
