Man City's owners sign 'football collaboration' deal with former Turkish champions Basaksehir

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) – English football powerhouse Manchester City's owners City Football Group (CFG) on Sunday signed a "football collaboration" agreement with former Turkish champions RAMS Basaksehir.

In a statement, Istanbul's Basaksehir said the CFG will provide consultancy to the Turkish club on several projects, including "long-term football strategy, player screening, transfers and process training."

The group will also advise Basaksehir on player transfer strategies, academy development, and data-driven insights.

"We are very proud of the unique expertise and experience we have within the City Football Group and look forward to working with Istanbul Basaksehir to support the growth of football in Turkey," CFG Managing Director Brian Marwood said.

Meanwhile, Basaksehir President Goksel Gumusdag said they are "very happy, proud and excited" to sign this football collaboration deal with the CFG, one of the world's largest football groups.

"Istanbul Basaksehir FK, which has achieved many firsts in the Turkish football despite its young age, today took a historical step and achieved another first for both itself and the Turkish football," Gumusdag said.

"From the beginning, we have reiterated at every opportunity that our vision and goals are different, and today, we have underlined this again with this cooperation with the world's largest football group," he said, thanking CFG officials for their approach and support in this process.

"...I hope it will be beneficial for Istanbul Basaksehir and the Turkish football," Gumusdag added.

Founded in 1990 as Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyesi Spor Kulubu (Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Sports Club), Basaksehir were promoted to the top-tier Turkish Super Lig in 2007, and the club was bought by new owners in 2014, which changed its name.

Basaksehir won the Turkish Super Lig title in 2020, which was their first. They played in the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League after their domestic league triumph.

Manchester City Football Club was sold to UAE investors in 2008.

The Abu Dhabi United Group kicked off a project to make Man City one of the top football clubs in Europe and around the globe.

In this respect, the CFG was established in 2013 as the Abu Dhabi United Group had a majority of shares.

The holding's flagship club is Manchester City, who won the 2023 UEFA Champions League title, and several English Premier League titles.

The CFG owns total or partial stakes of 13 clubs such as Manchester City in UK, New York City FC in the US, Melbourne FC in Australia, Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan, Montevideo City Torque in Uruguay, Girona in Spain, Sichuan Jiuniu FC in China, Mumbai City FC in India, Lommel in Belgium, ESTAC in France, Palermo in Italy, Bahia SAF in Brazil and partner Club, Club Bolivar.