Efe Sarıkaya

Efe Sarıkaya (born 30 November 2005) is a Turkish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for TFF First League club Altay.

Efe Sarıkaya
Personal information
Date of birth (2005-11-30) 30 November 2005
Place of birth İzmir, Turkey[1]
Position(s) Centre-back, left-back
Team information
Current team
 Altay
Number 33
Youth career
2014–2017 Altay
2017–2018 Çamdibi Yeşilova Esnafspor
2018–2022 Altay
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– Altay 25 (0)
International career‡
2022 Turkey U18 5 (0)
2022– Turkey U19 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 April 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 7 April 2023

Club career

Born in İzmir, Sarıkaya began his footballing career with Altay, and remained there for his entire youth career, apart from a short stint with Çamdibi Yeşilova Esnafspor in the 2017–2018 season.[2]

Sarıkaya made his professional debut at the end of the 2021–22 Süper Lig season, coming on as a late substitute for Kazımcan Karataş in a 2–1 away loss to Trabzonspor on 15 May 2022.[3] With Altay already effectively relegated, he was given one further game in May 2022, playing the full 90 minutes in a 4–2 home loss to Kasımpaşa.[2] The following season, he was included in the team's pre-season training as they prepared for the 2022–23 TFF First League season.[4] He signed a professional contract with the club in February 2022, keeping him with the club until 2024.[5]

In September 2022, following impressive performances for Altay in the Turkish second tier, he was linked with Turkish clubs Beşiktaş, Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe.[5] His performances would then catch the eye of Spanish club Atlético Madrid in December of the same year, with the club reportedly conveying their interest in writing to Altay.[6] In January 2023, he expressed that his priority was to continue at Altay, despite the interest from a number of clubs.[7]

Atlético Madrid followed up their interest in Sarıkaya in April 2023, with Altay manager Tuna Üzümcü claiming that the club had received an official offer from Atlético, as well as fellow Spanish side Sevilla and English Premier League side Manchester City, with the Turkish side rejecting all three bids.[8]

International career

Sarıkaya has represented Turkey at under-18 and under-19 levels.[2] Following a call-up to the under-18 side in August 2022, Altay's then-sporting director Tuna Üzümcü expressed his pride in Sarıkaya for representing his nation while playing for the club.[3] However, Altay, did not allow him to attend a training camp with the under-19 squad in October 2022, as they saw him as a crucial player in their bid to return to the Süper Lig.[9]

Style of play

A left-footed defender, Sarıkaya operates mostly at centre-back, although he has been played as a left-back in some instances.[7][8]

Career statistics

Club
As of 7 April 2023.[10]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Altay 2021–22 Süper Lig 20000020
2022–23 TFF 1. Lig 2300000230
Career total 2500000250
Notes

    References
    1. Efe Sarıkaya at WorldFootball.net
    2. Efe Sarıkaya at the Turkish Football Federation
    3. "Altay'ın Efe Sarıkaya gururu" [Efe Sarikaya pride of Altay]. fanatik.com (in Turkish). 17 August 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
    4. "Altay'ın kamp kadrosu belli oldu" [Altay's camp squad has been announced]. cnnturk.com (in Turkish). 29 June 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
    5. "Süper Lig devleri 16 yaşındaki futbolcunun peşinde" [Super League giants are chasing 16-year-old football player]. yenisafak.com (in Turkish). 24 September 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
    6. "Atletico Madrid, Efe Sarıkaya için Altay'a ilgisini resmi olarak iletti" [Atletico Madrid officially expressed interest to Altay for Efe Sarıkaya]. iha.com.tr (in Turkish). 16 December 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
    7. "Devlerin transfer listesindeki Efe Sarıkaya ilk röportajını Misli TV'ye verdi" [Efe Sarıkaya, who is on the transfer list of the giants, gave his first interview to Misli TV]. gazetevatan.com (in Turkish). 11 January 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
    8. Sancar, Özgür (6 April 2023). "El Atlético presenta una oferta por Efe Sarikaya" [Atlético presents an offer for Efe Sarikaya]. as.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 April 2023.
    9. "Altay'dan TFF'ye Efe Sarıkaya başvurusu" [Efe Sarıkaya application from Altay to TFF]. gazeteyenigun.com.tr (in Turkish). 20 October 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
    10. Efe Sarıkaya at Soccerway
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