Sam Adekugbe, a Canadian football player who plays for Turkish club Hatayspor, has transferred to Galatasaray on loan after surviving last week’s significant earthquakes in southern Turkey.
The Canadian defender will play for Galatasaray for the remainder of the 2022–23 campaign, according to a statement from Galatasaray. Both clubs approved of Adekugbe’s temporary transfer to the Istanbul club, the statement said.
For a €1 million ($1.06 million) transfer fee, Galatasaray can make the agreement permanent.
Adekugbe, who appeared upset, expressed his gratitude to both teams in an emotional English-language video posted on Galatasaray’s Twitter page. He also urged people to help those who had been affected by the disaster more.
“I’m thankful to Hatay and Galatasaray for giving me this opportunity. But of course, we understand the situation that has occurred in the last week or so,” he said. Hatay, where Hatayspor is based, is one of the worst-affected provinces of Turkey.
“People need our help—in any way we can,” Adekugbe said. “We can help with money, we can help with donations, we can help in any way, but it is important that we help and that we stay together.”
Sam Adekugbe: “Önemli olan yardım edip kenetlenmemiz çünkü biliyoruz ki biz beraberken daha güçlüyüz.”
— Galatasaray SK (@GalatasaraySK) February 16, 2023
Hayatını kaybeden vatandaşlarımızı saygıyla anıyoruz, kalbimizdesiniz! ∞
ℹ️ Nef Stadyumu’ndaki yardım merkezimizde, afet bölgesine yapacağınız yardımlarınızı bekliyoruz. ❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/ex2apxCfg9