Ernest Poku: Besiktas complete loan deal for Dutch-Ghana winger

Dutch-Ghanaian winger Ernest Poku has joined Besiktas from Leverkusen on a loan deal running until 30 June 2027.

The 22-year-old right winger switches from the Bundesliga to Turkey’s Super Lig after completing the move on 27 August 2026. Poku is right-footed and can operate on the flank, adding another attacking option to the Besiktas squad.

Poku joined Leverkusen from AZ Alkmaar in August 2025 in a €10m transfer. He had progressed through AZ’s youth system before making the move to the senior side, having previously represented AZ Alkmaar Under-21 and the club’s Under-18 team.

His development at AZ included success in European and domestic youth competitions. Poku won the UEFA Youth League with AZ Alkmaar Under-19 in the 2022-23 season and the Dutch Under-19 Youth Cup in 2023.

The player has Netherlands and Ghanaian nationality and was born in Hamburg. He joined AZ’s youth set-up from FC Amsterdam’s academy in 2019 before moving through the Dutch club’s age-group teams.

Poku’s arrival in Istanbul comes after a first season with Leverkusen following his move from AZ. His current market value is listed at €25m, although the completed transfer to Besiktas is a loan rather than a permanent deal.

Besiktas have secured Poku’s services until the end of the 2026-27 campaign, when the loan is scheduled to conclude and he is due to return to Leverkusen. The move places the winger in a new domestic league after his progression through Dutch football and his subsequent switch to Germany.

Poku has now formally completed his loan transfer from Leverkusen to Besiktas.