Ismail Jakobs says second Galatasaray season was ‘much more special’

Ismail Jakobs says his second season at Galatasaray was a significant improvement on his difficult first campaign, after injuries restricted his involvement during his early months in Istanbul.

The Senegal international joined the Turkish club from AS Monaco in September 2024, initially on loan with an obligation to buy, but his introduction to life at Galatasaray was disrupted by a series of fitness problems.

Looking back on that period during a programme broadcast on YouTube, Jakobs admitted that his first season was particularly challenging because of the amount of time he spent injured.

“Galatasaray’da ilk yılım çok fazla sakatlıkla geçtiği için zorluydu,” he explains.

The left-back was unavailable for a significant portion of the 2024-25 campaign. He suffered a muscle strain in October, followed by a calf tear in November, before Achilles tendon problems kept him out between January and March 2025.

Those setbacks meant Jakobs missed 25 matches during the season, limiting his opportunity to establish himself in the Galatasaray side.

Despite the difficult campaign, there was still a major achievement to celebrate as Galatasaray secured the league title. Jakobs regards that success positively, although he acknowledged that the season itself had been a painful experience because of his repeated injuries.

His fortunes changed considerably during his second season in Istanbul.

With his fitness no longer causing the same disruption, Jakobs was able to feature more regularly and contribute more consistently to the team. The defender believes that period allowed him to demonstrate the qualities he had been unable to show during his first campaign.

“My second season was much more special for me because I was healthy all year, I played matches, and I actively contributed to the team,” he emphasizes.

The demanding finish to the season also added to the significance of another title triumph for the Senegalese defender.

Jakobs has also developed a strong connection with the atmosphere surrounding the club and says he feels settled in Istanbul.

“I feel incredibly comfortable here,” he confides.

“There are no fans crazier and more passionate than the Turkish fans,” he believes.

After beginning his Galatasaray career with a succession of injury problems, Jakobs has now experienced a far more consistent spell with the Istanbul side.

The 31-year-old defender remains under contract with Galatasaray until June 2027 and has become an important part of the club’s plans after overcoming the difficulties that affected his first season.