Why Did Galatasaray's €80 Million Summer Transfers Fail to Deliver Expected Contributions?

Galatasaray entered the 2026/27 season by maintaining the core of its squad while making high-cost additions to the attack and midfield rotation. The total investment in Rafael Leao, Aleksey Batrakov, Deniz Gül, Lesley Ugochukwu, and El Chadaille Bitshiabu reached approximately €80 million, excluding purchase options.

The situation in the early weeks reveals two separate truths at once: Galatasaray continues to create, but is yet to receive direct scoring contributions from its new transfers.

None of the new signings have produced a goal or assist in the first seven official matches of the season. This data alone does not prove the players' failure; however, it clearly indicates who is bearing the attacking burden.

The problem is not in creating chances

Galatasaray scored 13 goals in the six matches played in the Super Lig, achieving an average of 2.17 goals per match. More importantly, the team's expected goals per match of 2.15 shows that the attacking performance is not solely about individual finishing ability.

The yellow-reds rank first in the league for total shots, shots on target, big chances, key passes, and crosses. This means that Okan Buruk's team is regularly establishing itself in the opponent's penalty area, creating opportunities, and playing in the opponent's half.

Despite this, the inability of the new transfers to get on the scoresheet in the early part of the season has led to the attacking production being concentrated among a narrow group of players.

Osimhen up front, creative load on Sara and Yunus

Victor Osimhen has produced six goals and two assists in four league matches. The Nigerian forward ranks first among Super Lig strikers in all categories with an average of 1.78 goals, 1.28 expected goals, 10.40 shots, and 4.75 shots on target per 90 minutes.

This is a significant strength for Galatasaray; however, it also indicates a dependency that needs to be monitored closely.

Yunus Akgün carries an even greater creative load than his direct goal tally suggests. Playing on the right wing, Yunus is among the most productive players in his position with averages of 3.28 key passes and 1.09 big chances per 90 minutes. Gabriel Sara has produced two goals and two assists in six matches, ranking at the top among central midfielders for key passes, crosses, and total shots.

Lucas Torreira's contribution of one goal and two assists also highlights how visible midfielders have become in Galatasaray's scoring production.

What’s the issue with the new transfers?

Rafael Leao played 230 minutes in four official matches, Batrakov 230 minutes in five official matches, Deniz Gül 155 minutes in four official matches, and Ugochukwu only 62 minutes in five matches. Bitshiabu has yet to play in an official match.

Therefore, it is still too early to conclude that 'the five transfers have failed.' Especially for Ugochukwu and Bitshiabu, the sample size of playing time is almost nonexistent. For Leao, Batrakov, and Deniz Gül, the issue is not just the number of minutes played, but how well they have integrated into the attacking organization.

In Galatasaray's current play, Osimhen is the main finisher in the penalty area, while Yunus and Sara stand out as the chance creators. The new transfers need to get more touches, more shots, and take on more responsibility within this setup.

Defensive issues are amplifying transfer discussions

While Galatasaray's attacking data is strong, the defensive start is making the discussion more intense. The yellow-reds conceded 10 goals in the first six weeks of the league. The 4-0 defeat against Trabzonspor exposed the fragility that overshadowed the positive attacking numbers at the start of the season.

Although the team's expected goals against per match is among the top in the league, the number of goals conceded and the impact of the recent defeat necessitate a closer examination of defensive performance.

Galatasaray has managed to stay in the title race. However, the true return on the €80 million summer investment will be determined not only by Osimhen's extraordinary form but also by when and to what extent Leao, Batrakov, Deniz Gül, and other new names contribute to scoring.