By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
Turkish Super Lig side Göztepe risk losing promising Nigerian midfielder Anthony Dennis this summer, with several European clubs reportedly monitoring his situation closely.
According to multiple reports from Turkey, Ligue 1’s Rennes, Bundesliga outfit Augsburg, and Russian Premier League side Lokomotiv Moscow have expressed concrete interest in the 21-year-old, who is currently valued at around €8 million by his club.
Dennis signed a three-year contract extension in 2024 in a bid by Göztepe to fend off transfer interest, but his breakout performances in the 2024/25 season have reignited external attention.
The midfielder featured in 32 league matches last season, averaging 1.5 interceptions, 2.3 tackles, and 7.9 ball recoveries per game, playing a vital role in Göztepe’s strong 8th-place finish.
Despite Göztepe’s valuation, Transfermarkt places Dennis’ market worth at €4 million, a disparity that could shape negotiations, particularly for financially conservative clubs like Rennes.
Sources suggest that while budget constraints remain a challenge, interested clubs are exploring flexible structures such as staggered payments, add-ons, or loan-to-buy arrangements to make a deal viable before the close of the transfer window.
Göztepe, for now, remain reluctant to part with one of their top assets, but could be forced into a decision should the player push for a move or if a substantial offer is tabled.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
