Mesut Ozil says joining Fenerbahce will be a “dream come true” after landing at the club in Turkey prior to medical treatment.
Ozil is expected to join Fenerbahce as a free agent once an early termination of his Arsenal deal, which should expire this summer, is finalized.
The paperwork is expected to be completed in the coming days before Ozil signs a three and a half year deal.
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After arriving in Turkey in the early hours of Monday morning, Ozil said: “I’m very excited because I’ve always been a fan of Fenerbahce. My dream is coming true.
“I’m very happy to be wearing the Fenerbahce jersey. I hope that we will be very successful with my team-mates.
“May God bless our fans because they always support us. As I mentioned before, I am very happy to be here.
“I hope to thank our fans for my good performance on the pitch.”
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Ozil held up a Fenerbahce scarf as he arrived in Turkey ahead of his much-anticipated move from Arsenal
On Sunday, Ozil said goodbye to his teammates and club staff from Arsenal at the club’s training ground before taking a private jet from London to Istanbul.
Fenerbahce publicly stated that they were in negotiations with the former German international on Sunday and informed investors and Borsa Instanbul (Turkish Stock Exchange) that negotiations with the player had started.
The club and Ozil confirmed the player’s arrival on social media late Sunday night.
Previously, he gave a short telephone interview with NTV in Turkey, in which he confirmed the move.
“I’m a Fenerbahce fan,” said Ozil. “That’s why I’m very happy to be coming to Turkey with Fenerbahce. I’m very excited. God has given me the opportunity to wear this shirt as a Fenerbahce fan. If God willing, I will wear it with honor and do anything I can. what I can.” for the team.
“Of course I’m missing a few games. I haven’t played in a game for a while, but I’m physically fit, I have no problems.”
The 32-year-old who is Arsenal’s top earner has not played for the Gunners since March after being frozen by manager Mikel Arteta.
Ozil has not been on Arsenal’s Premier League and Europa League squads this season and has been able to speak to other clubs since early January as his Gunners contract expires in the summer.
Developments come after progress is made in talks between Arsenal’s technical director, Edu, the director of Fenerbahce, Emre, and the agent of Ozil. The Gunners made it clear that Ozil was due to leave in January.
Ozil’s wages – he currently earns around £ 350,000 a week – are not expected to be an issue and it is believed that he will forego some of the outstanding salary for the remainder of his Arsenal contract.
Fenerbahce are under increasing pressure to comply with fair financial gaming regulations and have made it clear throughout the negotiation process that it is not possible to pay a significant transfer fee to Arsenal.
The club is backed by a portion of Ozil’s Total Income Agreement, which is funded by Istanbul-based Exxen Media Group, which in turn retains some of its image rights.
Emre, who worked as a player at Newcastle for three years, believes Ozil can play a key role as a mentor to Fenerbahce’s young players.
Ozil representatives were also in talks with MLS team DC United. In a Twitter Q&A earlier this week, Ozil expressed his desire to play in Turkey and the US before retiring.
Ozil, who joined Arsenal from Real Madrid in 2013, scored 44 goals and registered 77 assists in 254 games for the club.
Analysis: Ozil leaves a contradicting arsenal legacy
Nick Wright from Sky Sports:
‘Ozil always had different sides to him. Good and bad. Drop your jaw and scratch your head. But only a few players can keep up with its technical brilliance. Few can see the game the way he does it, let alone the things he does with the ball at his feet.
‘His first two years in North London resulted in two consecutive FA Cups on either side of a World Cup triumph with Germany. But on an individual level, it was only in his third time that it really clicked for him at Arsenal. His 2015/16 season was a heady demonstration of craft and creativity.
‘Ozil had scored 28 direct goals in 28 games over the course of that season. He delivered 19 assists in the Premier League, one less than Thierry Henry’s record, and created 146 chances, an astonishing total that is still the highest in a single season since Opta started breaking records nearly two decades ago. ‘
Read Nick Wright’s analysis of Ozil’s legacy in full
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