Fenerbahce face major hurdles in reported January move for Kelechi Iheanacho

Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho is reportedly being considered by Fenerbahce for a January transfer, but Bursaspor president Enes Celik has warned that the Turkish second-tier leaders would demand a substantial fee before agreeing to sell.

The interest was first reported by Turkish journalist Ahmet Selim Kul, with the story cited by Transfermarkt and relayed by Afrik-Foot. There has been no confirmed approach from Fenerbahce.

Any move would also depend on Fenerbahce resolving their foreign-player quota, which is currently full. The club would need to create space before adding Iheanacho to their squad.

Iheanacho, 30, joined Bursaspor from Celtic as a free agent in the summer. He has scored 16 goals and provided three assists in 12 league appearances, finding the net in every match he has played.

That run has lasted 12 matches and is a record in Turkish league football. Bursaspor are top of the 1. Lig, with 28 points from their opening 12 matches.

The club are also in talks with another Nigerian player, Henry Onyekuru.

Bursaspor set firm terms

Celik said Iheanacho was not seeking an exit, although he acknowledged that circumstances could change in football.

“He does not want to leave us, but he knows how football works,” Celik said, in comments reported by Afrik-Foot.

The Bursaspor president added that any offer “would have to be a figure that makes it worth it for us”.

Iheanacho is contracted to Bursaspor until June 2029, leaving the club under no immediate pressure to accept a January bid.

A transfer to Fenerbahce would offer Iheanacho the chance to play Champions League football for the first time since 2017. Fenerbahce are competing in this season’s league phase.

However, several obstacles remain. Fenerbahce must first address their foreign-player limit, while Bursaspor will determine the financial terms of any potential deal. Iheanacho would also face competition for a place in attack from Vedat Muriqi, Kerem Akturkoglu and Romelu Lukaku.

For now, the most likely outcome is that Iheanacho remains with the 1. Lig leaders and attempts to extend his scoring streak as the January transfer window approaches.

His position with Nigeria is a separate issue, with the Group L table before Tanzania central to that assessment.