Sonkaya switch suits Porto
Friday, July 8, 2005
Article summary
Turkish international right-back Fatih Sonkaya has left Besiktas JK to sign for FC Porto in a €1.5m transfer.
Article body
Dutch apprenticeship
The 24-year-old Sonkaya, who has dual Dutch and Turkish citizenship, completed the formalities of the move after passing a medical yesterday. Porto's Dutch coach Co Adriaanse knows the player well as he spent four seasons with Eredivisie club Roda JC, making 93 league appearances, having emerged through the FC Heerlen youth system and also played on loan at VVV Venlo.
Two signings
Signed to fill the right-back slot vacated by Giourkas Seitaridis, who has joined FC Dinamo Moskva, Sonkaya played ten times for Besiktas in his only campaign in Istanbul. He has six Turkey caps and joins 22-year-old Argentinian international forward Lisandro López, a €2.4m recruit from Racing Club de Avellaneda, for pre-season training. Besiktas, meanwhile, have cancelled the contract of 31-year-old Brazilian defender Ronaldo Guiaro.