Eyüpspor have completed the signing of Senegalese attacking midfielder Ismaila Manga from Essamaye FC on a free transfer, with the deal effective from 2026-02-03 and running until 2026-02-03. The 18-year-old moves directly from his homeland to Türkiye, joining the Süper Lig club after his contract with the Senegalese side ended and without a market value listed at the time of the transfer.
The confirmed move takes Manga out of domestic Senegalese football and places him in one of Europe’s more competitive emerging leagues. Eyüpspor, registered in the Turkish Süper Lig, add a right-footed attacking midfielder whose primary position is in the hole behind the forwards. While no transfer fee was paid, the club have secured a long-term asset at minimal initial cost, reflecting both his youth and the absence of a defined market valuation.
Manga arrives as a relatively unknown quantity outside Senegal, having played for Essamaye FC prior to the switch. His development up to this point has taken place entirely in his home country, and the transfer marks his first move abroad. The data specifies Essamaye FC as his previous club but does not record specific match performances, appearances, goals, or assists in recent fixtures, nor any detailed seasonal statistics, underlining how early he is in his professional journey.
Born on 15 May 2007 and standing at 1.80m, Manga fits the profile of a modern attacking midfielder: tall enough to handle physical battles, yet presumably agile and technical, given his positional designation. The information provided lists his main role as attacking midfield, without alternative positions, suggesting that Eyüpspor see him primarily as a creative presence between the lines rather than as a wide player or deeper-lying midfielder.
There are no recorded caps or statistics at senior national-team level, and no evidence of dual nationality. The data identifies him solely as Senegalese, meaning his move to Türkiye will also be his first exposure to European-style tactical demands and training environments. The domestic league for Essamaye FC is not specified, and there are no previous loans or transfers in his history, indicating this is his first major career step.
With no official market value attached at the time of the transfer, Manga effectively arrives in Istanbul as a low-risk, potentially high-reward signing. The absence of a fee and the direct switch from a club outside the major indexed leagues also means expectations may be moderate initially, giving him room to adapt to Turkish football. At the same time, the step up to a Süper Lig club signals that Eyüpspor’s scouting department see considerable upside in his profile.
Although recent match-by-match performance data is not available, the timing of the transfer and his age suggest Eyüpspor are investing in potential rather than proven output. There are no recorded appearance totals or goal contributions for the current or previous seasons to quantify his impact in Senegal, reinforcing the impression that the club are moving early before his value is clearly established on the wider market.
For Manga, the move represents a significant turning point: a transition from local football in Senegal to the international stage in Türkiye. If he adapts well to Eyüpspor and the Süper Lig environment, this contract could become the foundation for a reputation that extends beyond his home country and a springboard to a broader European career.
