Taylan Bulut joins Besiktas

“As a club, we have been in close contact with Taylan and his agent over the past weeks. The move to Besiktas represents a fitting solution for all involved from both a sporting and financial perspective,” said Youri Mulder, Schalke’s director of professional football. “The fact that Taylan is joining one of the top teams in Türkiye speaks to the quality of our academy. Together with everyone that has been part of his journey over the last five years, I’d like to thank Taylan for his efforts for our club and wish him all the best for the future.”

“I’m very grateful to Schalke for the time I’ve been able to spend here. From my first training sessions with Willi Landgraf, to winning the U17 Bundesliga and playing under Norbert Elgert for the U19s, I’ll be taking several great memories with me,” said Bulut. “I wish the club and their loyal supporters all the best for the season ahead.”

Bulut was born in Eschweiler in 2006 and played for Germania Dürwiß from 2010 to 2013. He then spent seven years at Bayer 04 Leverkusen before joining Schalke’s U15s. The defender was part of the club’s U17 side that won the U17 Bundesliga in 2022, before lifting the U17 EUROs the following year with Germany. Bulut has featured in 33 matches at youth level for his country to date, in addition to running out 29 times in all competitions for the Royal Blues.

With the move, Bulut joins the ranks of several other players from the Schalke academy who have generated significant transfer revenue for the club. Over the last three years, the Royal Blues have also been able to command transfer fees for the likes of Malick Thiaw (AC Milan, now at Newcastle United) and Assan Ouédraogo (RB Leipzig). “These three examples alone prove how important the Knappenschmiede is, and will remain, for us. Our coaches and academy staff play a key role in ensuring the long-term success of the club,” said Frank Baumann, S04’s board member for sport.