Ivorian international Christopher Operi is on the verge of completing a transfer to Turkish Süper Lig side İstanbul Başakşehir. The left-back, who has earned seven caps for the Ivory Coast national team, arrived in Istanbul on Sunday evening to finalize the deal.
Currently sitting seventh in the Süper Lig standings after 17 matches, Başakşehir is seeking to bolster their squad during the winter transfer window.
Operi, an integral figure for the Elephants during the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, has been identified as a key target for the Istanbul-based club.
According to journalist Nabil Djellit, Operi, who is under contract with French side Le Havre until 2026, traveled to Istanbul ahead of the anticipated move.
The news emerged shortly after Le Havre’s heavy 5-1 defeat to Olympique de Marseille in Ligue 1 on Sunday, a game in which Operi did not feature.
A New Chapter for Operi
If the transfer is completed, Operi will be embarking on a new chapter in his career.
The 27-year-old has previously played in France, representing clubs such as Caen, his youth team, and Châteauroux.
He also spent a season in Belgium with La Gantoise before returning to France to join Le Havre.
In his time with Le Havre, Operi made 78 appearances, contributing five goals and ten assists.
His most recent match came in the Coupe de France on December 21, a narrow 1-0 loss to Stade Briochin.
The Abidjan-born defender is known for his versatility and dynamic play, qualities that Başakşehir will hope to capitalize on as they aim to improve their league position.
Integration into an African Core
At Başakşehir, Operi will join a squad that already boasts a strong African contingent, including Ghanaian Jerome Opoku, Cameroonian Olivier Kemen, and Senegalese players Ousseynou Ba and Philippe Keny.
While the club has yet to release an official statement regarding the transfer, an announcement is expected imminently.
Operi’s move signals a promising opportunity for the player to showcase his talents in a new league and contribute to Başakşehir’s ambitions in the Turkish top flight.
