Why so many football stars are signing for the Turkish Super League: the low tax rates behind the boom

Turkey's transfer window is still open while most of Europe's major leagues have already shut theirs. Clubs in the Super League can keep signing players until this Friday at midnight, and they are taking full advantage of it. Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, Besiktas and Trabzonspor have put together squads that look like a sticker album of global stars.

• The Turkish transfer market closes this Friday at midnight, later than in Europe's top leagues.
• Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, Besiktas and Trabzonspor have signed stars such as Leao, Lukaku, Kanté, Vlahovic and Trossard.
• Footballers in Turkey pay a flat reduced rate of 20% thanks to the country's withholding tax system.
• Contracts are negotiated directly in net terms, which is not the case in most high-tax competitions.
• Exemptions for foreign income make Turkey especially attractive for athletes who move their tax residency to the country.

Galatasaray's new front line of Leao, Osimhen and Sané

Galatasaray now boast a top-level attack with Leroy Sané, Victor Osimhen and Rafael Leao, the latter having just arrived from Milan. Behind them, players such as Ilkay Gündogan, Baris Alper Yilmaz and Davinson Sánchez complete a starting eleven that would not look out of place in the Champions League knockout stages.

Fenerbahçe, a starting eleven full of Premier League and Serie A stars

Across Istanbul, Fenerbahçe can field Ederson in goal, with Semedo, Skriniar, Aké and Kanté as familiar figures further back. In attack, names such as Marco Asensio, Mason Greenwood, Romelu Lukaku and Vedat Muriqi raise the team's firepower. It is a clear bet on winning back the league title and competing in Europe with real ambition.

The Salah effect and Trabzonspor's rise

Trabzonspor have made one of the biggest headlines of the summer by signing Mohamed Salah, a move that has filled front pages and sparked huge excitement among the club's supporters. Alongside the Egyptian, the squad features well-known European names such as André Onana, Stefan Savic and Fabinho. Salah's arrival confirms that the Turkish Super League is no longer just a destination for players in the final stretch of their careers.

Besiktas sign Vlahovic and Trossard to challenge for the title

Besiktas have completed the signing of Dusan Vlahovic, the Serbian striker who left Juventus as a free agent. He waited for Barcelona to make a firm move, but the Catalan club showed little interest and the forward eventually accepted Turkey's offer, introducing himself with a hat-trick. He will form an attack alongside Leandro Trossard, the Belgian who played a key role for Arsenal before heading to Istanbul.

The real reason: a disguised tax haven for footballers

The question is unavoidable: why are so many stars, often nearing the end of their careers, now landing in Turkish football like never before? The league is competitive, stadiums are packed every weekend and the passion of the fans is undeniable. But the decisive factor is not on the pitch. It is in the tax system.

Turkey applies a fixed and reduced withholding tax for athletes, meaning they pay only 20% on their contracts. In Europe's biggest leagues, that figure typically ranges between 45% and 55%. The gap is huge and helps explain why many players demand to negotiate their salaries in net terms from the very start.

In Turkey, contracts are closed in net terms. The player knows exactly how much money they will keep after tax, and that flat 20% is a massive advantage over Europe's top leagues.

On top of the reduced withholding rate, footballers who move their tax residency to Turkey can benefit from exemptions on foreign income. This combination turns the country into a magnet for elite players looking to maximise their earnings in the final phase of their careers. A disguised tax haven that has completely changed the profile of Super League signings.