Mesut Ozil has donated over £80,000 to a leading charity to fund aid supplies during the holy month of Ramadan.
Arsenal midfielder Ozil, 31, has donated 713,000 lira (£81,333) to the Turkish Red Crescent's campaign, enough to provide iftar - the meal Muslims eat at sunset every day to end their Ramadan fast - for 16,000 people in Turkey and beyond.
A statement on the charity's website said that 2,000 families in Turkey and Syria would receive food packages through Ozil's donation with further resources sent to the Somali capital of Mogadishu.
Ozil, who is understood to donate up to £2million to charitable causes every year, also worked with the Turkish Red Crescent last year when he used his wedding celebrations to donate meals to 16,000 people in need.
Kerem Kinik, head of the organisation, said: "At the Red Crescent, we stand by those in need 365 days a year. Of course, we do this thanks to donations made by philanthropist friends who follow our work.
"As donations increase, we will be able to reach even more people in need.
"Thanks to our brother Mesut, we will be able to deliver packages provided to people in need – delivering them as soon as possible,” he said.
Ozil was the subject of widespread criticism last month when it emerged that he had not agreed to a 12.5% pay cut Arsenal proposed their first team squad take to ease the financial burden brought on by coronavirus.
As football.london reported at the time, Ozil has not categorically rejected the pay cut but is waiting for further clarity over the financial situation at the Emirates Stadium. He would be prepared to accept a significant pay deferral immediately whilst also not ruling out a more significant pay cut at a later date if required.
