Manchester United already loaned Andre Onana to Trabzonspor in the Turkish Super Lig, and now Turkish international goalkeeper Altay Bayindir is set to join Besiktas in the Super Lig on a permanent basis.
According to Turkish outlet Fanatik, via mufcmpb, Besiktas and Manchester United have reached an agreement to sell Bayindir to the Istanbul giants for just five million euros. Per the report from Fanatik, he will join Besiktas right when the summer 2026 transfer window opens.
Bayindir had the first crack at starting at goalkeeper in relief of the mistake-prone Onana, but he struggled, too, shocking reporters in the Premier League with how poorly he handled the very basics of goalkeeping, such as crosses.
Meanwhile, Onana has designs on returning to Manchester United after his loan in Turkey concludes at the end of the season, but he will not have much of a chance at starting over Senne Lammens, whose upgrade over the previous two keepers has helped Man United dream of the Champions League again.
Bayindir should land on his feet in the Turkish Super Lig, but even for Besiktas, he will not be a guaranteed starter. He has to prove he is more than a backup level player, and five million euros is pretty much backup level money.
Joe Soriano is the editor of The Trivela Effect and a FanSided Hall of Famer who has covered world football since 2010. He’s led top digital communities like The Real Champs (Real Madrid) and has run sites covering Tottenham, Liverpool, Juventus, and Schalke. He also helped manage NFL Spin Zone and Daily DDT, covering the NFL and pro wrestling.