Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho has finally explained the thinking behind his surprise move to Turkish side Bursaspor, insisting the club’s ambitious long term vision not financial incentives persuaded him to reject a new contract with Scottish champions Celtic.
The 29-year-old completed a three-year move to the ambitious Turkish 1. Lig club last week, bringing an end to his successful spell in Scotland despite helping Celtic win a domestic double and attracting expectations that he would remain at Parkhead.
Instead, Iheanacho chose to join a club currently outside Turkey’s top flight a decision that raised eyebrows across Britain.
Now, speaking for the first time since completing the transfer, the former Manchester City and Leicester City forward says Bursaspor’s plans to return to the Turkish Super Lig and eventually compete in Europe made the decision straightforward.
“Bursaspor is a big team in Turkey. I heard they won the Turkish Super League before,” Iheanacho told the club’s official media.
“When I heard the project they have and how they want to go all the way to the Super League and to play in Europe as well, I said this is a big project and it’s very good for me to come and be involved and help the team.
“I asked my agent to make sure he did everything possible to make sure I come to Bursaspor. There’s a big project and I hope I’m going to be part of it and help the team.”
Kelechi Iheanacho has revealed the real reason behind his move to Turkish club Bursaspor, insisting the club’s ambitious project not money convinced him to reject Celtic and sign a three-year deal. Photocredit: Bursaspor
Iheanacho says his arrival in Turkey about sporting ambition, rather than salary, which proved decisive in his choice.
The explanation comes just days after Bursaspor president Enes Çelik dismissed widespread reports claiming the Nigerian had joined the club on a massive wage package.
Instead of the reported figures circulating on social media, Çelik confirmed that Iheanacho’s guaranteed annual salary is €1.4 million, equivalent to roughly €27,000 per week, while describing the transfer as financially responsible for the club.
That revelation contradicted earlier speculation that Bursaspor had dramatically outbid Celtic to secure the striker’s signature.
Prior to the move, reports from Scotland suggested Celtic’s negotiations stalled before the Turkish club moved swiftly to complete the deal, presenting both a long term contract and a clear sporting roadmap centred around restoring one of Turkey’s most historic clubs to the Super Lig.
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Despite arriving as arguably the biggest name in Turkey’s second division, Iheanacho insisted individual statistics are secondary to the club’s collective ambition.
“We know what we want as a team, but collectively as a team hopefully we achieve the promotion,” he said.
“That is our main target before the individual target of a player. My target is for us to go to the Super League.”
The comments underline the scale of Bursaspor’s ambition after the club invested heavily this summer in a bid to secure immediate promotion back to Turkey’s top flight.
From Manchester City to Leicester City, Watford, Gençlerbirliği, Celtic and now Bursaspor, Kelechi Iheanacho’s career has taken the Super Eagles striker across England, Scotland and Turkey. PhotoCredit: Imago
The Super Eagles forward also acknowledged the role supporters played in convincing him to embrace the move.
According to Iheanacho, Bursaspor fans flooded his social media accounts with messages encouraging him to join the Green Crocodiles long before the transfer became official.
Their enthusiasm, combined with the club’s long term vision, convinced him he was making the right decision at a crucial stage of his career.
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Iheanacho leaves Scotland after enjoying a productive campaign in which he scored nine goals and helped Celtic complete a domestic double.
Although the Scottish champions were hopeful of retaining him, negotiations ultimately broke down before Bursaspor completed the deal.
Iheanacho says the attraction was never simply about changing clubs. It was about buying into a vision.
“This is a big project,” he said. “I hope I will be part of it and help the team achieve it.”
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