Mesut Ozil has been confirmed as an Istanbul Basaksehir player after having his contract terminated at fellow Turkish Super Lig side Fenerbahce.
The former Germany international has signed a one-year deal at the Fatih Terim Stadium with the option of a further 12 months.
Ozil had been under contract with Fenerbahce until the end of the 2023-24 season, but he was banished from the first team in March and new boss Jorge Jesus made it clear the playmaker was not part of his plans either.
Kulübümüz, son olarak Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü nde oynayan Mesut Özil ile 1+1 yıllığına anlaşma sağladı.
Mesut Özil e ailemize hoş geldin diyor, turuncu-lacivertli formamızla başarılar diliyoruz.
— İstanbul Başakşehir (@ibfk2014)
Following confirmation of his exit from last season s Turkish top-flight runners-up on Wednesday, Ozil took to Twitter to acknowledge that his dream move did not go as expected.
One of the things that makes life is that it is full of uncertainties. Our plans, desires and wishes may not always go in the direction you want them to, he tweeted.
I wanted to achieve success by getting more chances to play in the Fenerbahce jersey, which has always been my childhood dream.
I would like to thank the Fenerbahce community and fans for the great support they have shown me.
Former Arsenal midfielder Ozil, a World Cup 2014 winner with Germany, made 37 appearances across his season and a half with Fenerbahce and scored nine times.
