Age: 26
French midfielder Mattéo Guendouzi has experienced a unique career thus far, especially considering he is still just 26 years old. He joined Arsenal as a teenager in 2018 for €8 million from Lorient during Unai Emery’s management. However, after just two years, he clashed with new coach Mikel Arteta and was deemed expendable. Guendouzi found new life playing for Marseille in France and Lazio in Italy, leading to his recall to Didier Deschamps’ France squad in 2024 after a two-year hiatus. Now, he appears set to move to Istanbul.
Recent reports indicate that a verbal agreement has been reached for a €29 million deal, including add-ons, that will see Guendouzi join Turkish powerhouses Fenerbahce. The necessary paperwork between Lazio and Fenerbahce is currently being prepared to finalize the transfer this week. Guendouzi has already consented to the terms of the deal. This transfer would not only rank among the most significant of the January window but also become one of the largest in Fenerbahce’s history, making Guendouzi one of the club’s most valuable signings ever.
Top Valuable Signings for Fenerbahce
The highest-value player to have signed for Fenerbahce is striker Jhon Durán, who joined on loan from the Saudi Pro League last summer with a market value of €35 million, though it has since dropped to €32 million. Guendouzi now stands as the second most valuable signing with a current valuation of €28 million. There are also three players who joined Fenerbahce with a €22 million valuation: Edson Álvarez, Youssef En-Nesyri, and Kerem Aktürkoğlu—each still playing for the club.
