Arda Turan was born on 30 January 1987 in the Bayrampaşa district of Istanbul. He began his football career at Altıntepsi Makelspor, a local team in the Altıntepsi neighborhood where he was born and raised. In 2000, at the age of 12, he joined the Galatasaray youth academy. He continued his development within Galatasaray’s youth system until 2005 and then embarked on his professional football career.
Career
Arda Turan’s professional football career began in 2004 with Galatasaray. He was promoted to the first team in 2005 and wore the club’s jersey for several years. Arda made his first official match for Galatasaray in 2005 against Bursaspor and scored his first goal in the Süper Lig in 2006. After spending several years at Galatasaray, he transferred to Spanish club Atlético Madrid in 2011. With a transfer fee of 12 million euros, Arda became the most expensive Turkish player ever to move abroad at that time. During his early seasons at Atlético Madrid, he won numerous honors including the La Liga title, the UEFA Europa League, the Spanish Super Cup and the UEFA Super Cup. Additionally, he played a key role in helping his team reach the UEFA Champions League final in 2014 by scoring a goal in the semifinal.
In 2015, Arda Turan transferred to Barcelona. He spent several seasons there, further developing his career. Although he faced challenges such as injuries and difficulty securing a regular starting position, he experienced the prestige of playing for one of Spain’s major clubs during his time at the club. After his contract with Barcelona ended in 2018, a new chapter began in Arda’s career.
National Team Career
Arda also achieved significant success with the Türkiye national team, becoming one of its most important players during the 2008 UEFA European Championship, where he scored two goals. Arda Turan made his debut for the Türkiye national team in 2006 in a match against Luxembourg. As one of the most prominent figures in Turkish football, Arda has won countless national and international awards, including the Milliyet Sports Awards for Footballer of the Year in 2008 and 2009 and Sportsman of the Year in 2013. He also won the award for European Footballer of the Year in 2014. Arda Turan, who has earned numerous achievements at both club and international levels, has become one of the icons of Turkish football.
Arda Turan (Photo: From Mutlu Demirtaş, Anadolu Agency)
Current Status
After announcing the end of his professional football career on 12 September 2022, Arda Turan took his first step into coaching. On 15 April 2023, he began his role as head coach of Eyüpspor, a team in the Türkiye 1. Lig. Upon taking charge, he worked with the goal of promoting the team to the Süper Lig and successfully achieved this on 7 April 2024. Turan signed a two-year contract with Shakhtar Donetsk on 27 May 2025, concluding his tenure at Eyüpspor. In his coaching career, Arda Turan applies the experience he gained from former mentors such as Diego Simeone and Luis Enrique.
Club Achievements
Galatasaray:
- Süper Lig Championship: 2007–2008, 2011–2012, 2012–2013, 2014–2015
- Türkiye Kupası: 2004–2005, 2013–2014
- Türkiye Süper Kupa: 2008, 2013, 2016
- TSYD Kupası: 2011, 2012
Atlético Madrid:
- La Liga Championship: 2013–2014
- UEFA Europa League: 2011–2012
- UEFA Super Cup: 2012
- Spanish Super Cup: 2014
Barcelona:
- La Liga Championship: 2015–2016, 2017–2018
- Copa del Rey: 2015–2016
- Spanish Super Cup: 2016
Individual Achievements
- Süper Lig Footballer of the Year: 2010–2011
- Atlético Madrid Player of the Year: 2012
- UEFA Europa League Team of the Season: 2012
- Best Footballer in Turkish Football (Milliyet Sports Awards): 2011, 2013
- Türkiye’s Best Player (FIFA Puskás Award Nominee): 2016
