Vincent Aboubakar has officially terminated his contract with Turkish club Hatayspor, bringing an end to a challenging season that saw the Cameroonian striker unable to steer the side clear of relegation danger.
The 33-year-old forward, capped 104 times for Cameroon with 40 international goals, signed with Hatayspor last summer following his departure from Besiktas.
His move was seen as a bold decision at the time, leaving a club competing for European spots to join a team fighting to survive in Turkey’s top flight.
During the 2023–2024 campaign, Aboubakar featured in 28 matches, scoring eight goals and providing two assists.
Despite his contributions, Hatayspor struggled throughout the season and ultimately failed to retain their position comfortably in the Süper Lig.
The team narrowly avoided relegation in the previous year but could not replicate that feat this term.
“Abouchouchou,” as the striker is fondly called in his homeland, now faces a pivotal moment in his career.
While he is no longer tied to Hatayspor, speculation is already mounting over his next move.
“Vincent Aboubakar has terminated his contract with Hatayspor,” reported multiple Turkish and Cameroonian outlets on Friday, confirming his free agent status.
A potential destination appears to be Kocaelispor, newly crowned champions of the Turkish 1. Lig.
With their promotion to the Süper Lig secured, the club is looking to strengthen its squad to ensure survival among the elite, and Aboubakar’s experience and scoring ability could prove valuable.
🔴 OFFICIEL ! Vincent Aboubakar résilie son contrat d’un commun accord avec Hatayspor.
L’attaquant camerounais a inscrit 8 buts et délivré 2 passes décisives en 28 matchs avec le club turc. 👋🇨🇲 pic.twitter.com/qEuvCvNjoX
— AllezLesLions (@AllezLesLions) May 9, 2025
“Unless there is a change of scenery, he is expected to join Kocaelispor, the 1. Lig (Turkish second division) champions, who are back in the Süper Lig after several difficult stints in the lower divisions.”
Talks between Aboubakar and Kocaelispor reportedly began as early as February, when the club was still battling for promotion.
Though no official confirmation has yet been made, the move is seen by many as a logical step for the veteran striker, keeping him in the top tier of Turkish football while offering a new challenge.
Should the transfer materialise, Kocaelispor would become Aboubakar’s third club in Turkey and his seventh overall in European football.
His journey includes spells at Valenciennes and Lorient in France, FC Porto in Portugal, and Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, where he featured before returning to Turkey.
The next chapter in Aboubakar’s career may soon unfold, and all eyes will be on whether he can bring his trademark goal-scoring prowess to a new side once again.
