Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 10y

Hakan Calhanoglu in Leverkusen move

#INSERT type:image caption:Calhanoglu scored 11 goals in 32 games for Hamburg last season. END#

Hakan Calhanoglu has completed his move from Hamburg to Bayer Leverkusen, bringing a long-running transfer saga to an end.

The 20-year-old Turkey international midfielder has signed a five-year contract, and moves for a fee of around 14 million euros. He had also been linked with a switch to Premier League.

Calhanoglu spent only one season at Hamburg, scoring 11 goals in 32 appearances, but decided he wanted to move on despite being under contract until 2018.

"Thanks to his playmaking qualities and goalscoring threat, Hakan will really strengthen our side," Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voller told the club's official website.

"We've gained a player who can do the unexpected and is extremely creative. Hakan should and will give our team an important boost in quality."

The player's hopes of a move appeared to stall when financially-troubled Hamburg vetoed his sale to a Bundesliga rival, but their move for Pierre-Michel Lasogga from Hertha Berlin meant funds were needed.

Calhanoglu said that meant he could "take the next step forward," adding: "Bayer have a great team and they've been in Europe regularly in recent years.

"To reach the Champions League group stages and compete at the top of the Bundesliga is a big challenge for me. I'm really looking forward to it and I'll give everything to help the team."

^ Back to Top ^