Sunderland are scouring the market for the best young talent, and the latest name to be linked with the Black Cats is Semih Kilicsoy.
Regis Le Bris already has some incredible young players at his disposal. Indeed, the Sunderland project looks like one of the most exciting and promising projects in the Football League right now.
It is believed Sunderland’s next priority in the transfer market is to find a new striker, and multiple names have been linked with the Wearside club when it comes to attacking reinforcements.
Next up on the rumour mill is Semih Kilicsoy, but will the Turkish talent join the Sunderland squad? What kind of player is he exactly? And how much would he cost? Sunderland AFC News has all the answers.
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Semih Kilicsoy’s career to date
Semih Kilicsoy is a product of the Besiktas academy, developing through the club’s youth ranks over the last few years before officially being promoted to the senior squad in 2023. It’s no surprise he was given the chance, either, having scored 18 goals in 17 games for the Under-19 squad.
He made his senior debut for Besiktas with a 32-minute substitute appearance against Antalyaspor in February 2023, before picking up another three appearances that season (albeit amounting to only a further nine minutes).
The 2023/24 campaign was a real breakthrough for the teenager, with 23 appearances in the Turkish Super Lig and 11 goals to his name, plus three assists.
| Statistics | Semih Kilicsoy (Super Lig 2023/24) |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 23 |
| Goals | 11 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Shots on target/90 | 1.29 |
| Non-penalty goals/90 | 0.59 |
That year, Kilicsoy ranked eighth in the league for shots on target per 90 with 1.29, and was also fourth in the division for non-penalty goals per 90 with 0.59.
It’s been a less fruitful year for Kilicsoy so far in the 2024/25 season, with just two goals in 29 games, but he does have six assists so far.
Semih Kilicsoy transfer news and rumours
Kilicsoy has been linked with Sunderland in the January transfer window, with a loan-to-buy offer thought to be put forward by the Black Cats. Meanwhile, Ajax were also keen on the 19-year-old.
However, it’s believed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would rather keep Kilicsoy, as he is wary of injuries leaving his squad thin. The Besiktas boss described Kilicsoy as a ‘top level’ talent.
More recently, it emerged Newcastle United were interested in Kilicsoy, while Aston Villa were also keeping tabs.
In the past, Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, and Manchester City were all looking to make a move for Kilicsoy (as per Sabah via Sport Witness).
Semih Kilicsoy age, height, and weight
Semih Kilicsoy was born in Istanbul on August 15, 2005, making him 19-years-old at the time of writing.
He stands at 1.78m tall and weighs 68kg.
Semih Kilicsoy market value and salary
Semih Kilicsoy’s market value is €15m (£12.5m), according to Transfermarkt. However, reports suggest Besiktas would be looking for closer to £16m if they were to let the youngster leave.
As per Capology, Kilicsoy’s current salary is €9,615 (£8,066) per week, or €500,000 (£419,467) per year. He is among the lower earners at Besiktas, which makes sense given his age and relative lack of experience.
Kilicsoy signed a new contract last January, which runs through to June 2028.
What kind of player is Semih Kilicsoy?
Semih Kilicsoy primarily operates as a centre forward, but is capable of playing wide on the left or the right. This season, he has been utilised on the left more often, which explains his downturn in goals.
The 19-year-old is a really effective dribbler. He’s got plenty of skill, loves to take on his man, and has a low centre of gravity, making it easy for him to turn quickly.
Kilicsoy is also a great finisher. He’s comfortable in the box, but can also find the back of the net from distance, too.
However, Kilicsoy does have his weaknesses. He’s not the best passer of the ball, and his crossing needs work. He’s also not the kind of player who will track back and help out defensively, and he sometimes struggles if he’s asked to hold up the ball in advanced areas.
In terms of his profile, Kilicsoy is probably most similar to Eliezer Mayenda in the Sunderland squad. Both are athletic, intelligent forwards who like to drive forward with the ball. In that respect, Le Bris would really benefit from having two options to partner Wilson Isidor.