Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho has finally broken his silence on his decision to snub Scottish Premiership champions Celtic for Turkish 1. Lig club Bursaspor, Soccernet.ng reports.
Iheanacho was one of the Super Eagles stars constantly in the transfer news over the summer. He had joined Celtic on a free transfer last year, penning a one-year deal.
After a rough start to the season, he found his form in the second half of the campaign, scoring crucial goals in the run-up to their Scottish Cup and Premiership triumphs.
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That strong finish prompted significant talk about his future once his contract expired, although he appeared on course to sign an extension as of early August.
However, Bursaspor quickly swooped in by mid-August. It was a swift deal, with the initial speculation and final agreement wrapped up in less than a week.
The move came as a shock, leaving many fans baffled that a player would leave the Scottish champions for a club in the Turkish second tier.
After the deal was completed, reports emerged suggesting that Iheanacho was swayed by money, with Bursaspor willing to pay higher wages than Celtic.
However, the former Leicester City forward has clarified that the move was purely a personal choice.
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”As a player, you have your reasons for choosing any club you join in Turkey,” Iheanacho told the NFF.
”For me, football is the same all over the world, no matter where you go. You play the same game everywhere. Several of us are in Turkey, and in the division where I play, there are many Nigerians that people might not know about. But it is a good league.
”I don’t know how people rate the league, but it’s a genuinely tough division and not as easy as people think.
”When you come here to play, you will see whether it is easy or not. My teammates who are here can testify to that as well. I’m enjoying it, and I know they are enjoying it too. It’s a very good league.”
Seniorman Kelz speaks about his journey with the @NGSuperEagles and other NTs.
Haven’t seen him in a serious mood for a long time
#disfootballsef https://t.co/zctaWlN0Z9
— Andrew Randa (@RandaAndrew) October 5, 2026
Super Eagles: Kelechi Iheanacho Takes Turkish 1. Lig By Storm
Before this season, Kelechi Iheanacho had never played outside Great Britain. Despite that, the move has proven to be a masterstroke, as he has already contributed 11 goals and two assists in eight league appearances.
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He has undeniably been the best player in the Turkish second tier, fully repaying the faith placed in him. In fact, that stellar club form is precisely what earned him this recall.
The 30-year-old striker will be looking to carry that momentum over to the Super Eagles when they face Russia on Tuesday.
As one of the most experienced names on Eric Chelle’s squad list, Iheanacho is undoubtedly one of the key players the manager will count on to deliver.
