Galatasaray go all out for Çağlar

Galatasaray AŞ have signed Turkish international left-back Çağlar Birinci from relegated Denizlispor in a deal worth €1.5m, with Murat Akça, Erhan Şentürk, Sadrettin Fırat Kocaoğlu and Semih Kaya all going in the other direction. Serdar Eylik has also joined the first division side on a one-year loan.

Çağlar, 24, has agreed a three-year contract after admitting that while "there were other interested clubs I felt closer to Galatasaray". The defender has become much sought-after since his breakthrough season of 2007/08, earning an international debut against Belgium in September 2008. He added two more caps last month on Turkey's tour to the United States.

Only three years ago Çağlar was playing in the lower divisions of Turkish football. A product of Trabzonspor AŞ's academy, he turned professional at second-tier Orduspor in 2004 before switching to Bakırköyspor in the fourth level. Rave reviews earned a move to Turkish Süper Lig side Denizlispor in summer 2006, though he was immediately sent out on loan.