Orkun Kökcü

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Orkun Kökçü
Kökçü in 2026
Personal information
Date of birth (2000-12-29) 29 December 2000
Place of birth Haarlem, Netherlands[1]
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Beşiktaş
Number 10
Youth career
2007–2009 Olympia Haarlem
2009–2010 EDO
2010–2011 Stormvogels
2011–2014 Groningen
2014–2018 Feyenoord
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2023 Feyenoord 119 (23)
2023–2026 Benfica 60 (14)
2025–2026 → Beşiktaş (loan) 30 (8)
2026– Beşiktaş 0 (0)
International career‡
2017–2018 Netherlands U18 5 (2)
2018–2019 Netherlands U19 7 (2)
2019 Turkey U21 2 (0)
2020– Turkey 53 (4)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23:09, 15 May 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 08:55, 25 June 2026 (UTC)

Orkun Kökçü (Turkish pronunciation: [oɾˈkun ˈcœctʃy]; born 29 December 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Süper Lig club Beşiktaş, whom he captains. Born in the Netherlands, he plays for the Turkey national team.

Club career

Feyenoord

A youth product of FC Groningen, where he arrived after having played for local clubs around his hometown Haarlem,[2] Kökçü joined the Feyenoord youth academy in 2014.[3] He made his debut for Feyenoord at the age of 17 in a 4–0 win over VV Gemert in the first round of the KNVB Cup on 17 September 2018, scoring Feyenoord's second goal.[4] He made his Eredivisie debut against FC Emmen on 9 December 2018,[5] and contributed with a goal and an assist after coming on as a substitute.[6] On 10 April 2019, he extended his contract at Feyenoord until 2023.[7] On 26 June 2020, he reached an agreement to extend his contract with Feyenoord for another two years, a deal to the end of the 2024–25 season.[8]

Following Jens Toornstra's departure, Feyenoord head coach Arne Slot chose Kökçü as his club captain on 2 September 2022.[9] With Kökçü as captain, Feyenoord went on to win the 2022–23 Eredivisie.[10]

Benfica

On 10 June 2023, Kökçü joined Benfica on a five-year deal for a reported fee of €25 million, plus €5 million in variables.[11] The sum represented a record signing for the Portuguese club and the league surpassing Darwin Núñez transfer from Almería to Benfica in 2020 for transfer fee of €24 million and a club record sale for Feyenoord becoming the club's biggest sale since Kökçu's former Feyenoord teammate Luis Sinisterra's transfer to Leeds United in 2022 for a fee of €25 million.[12]

Kökçü made his debut for Benfica in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, starting in a 2–0 win over rivals FC Porto.[13] He scored his first goal on 2 September, netting Benfica's third goal in a 4–0 home win over Vitória de Guimarães.[14] Kökçü made his UEFA Champions League debut on 20 September, starting in a 2–0 home loss to Red Bull Salzburg.[15]

Beşiktaş

On 12 July 2025, Kökçü agreed on a loan deal with Süper Lig club Beşiktaş with an obligation to buy.[16] On 17 October 2025, Kökçü was appointed as the new captain of the team.[17]

International career

Kökçü playing for Turkey in 2024

Kökçü was a youth international for the Netherlands, having represented the Netherlands U18s,[18] and Netherlands U19s.[19] In July 2019, Kökçü announced the intent to play for the Turkey national team.[20] He represented the Turkey U21s in a 3–2 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification loss to the England U21s on 6 September 2019.[21]

He made his Turkey national team debut on 6 September 2020 in a Nations League game against Serbia, he started the game and played the first hour of the 0–0 away draw.[22]

In June 2021, Kökçü was included in the list of 26 Turkish players selected to compete at UEFA Euro 2020.[23]

On 7 June 2024, he was named in the final squad of 26 players chosen by Vincenzo Montella to take part in UEFA Euro 2024.[24]

On 2 June 2026, Kökçü was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[25]

Personal life

Born in the Netherlands, Kökçü is of Turkish descent,[26] from Suvermez, Emirdağ.[27] He is the younger brother of the professional footballer Ozan Kökçü who plays internationally for the Azerbaijan national team. He is a lifelong fan of Beşiktaş and indicated a desire to play for the club he had been supporting since childhood.[28]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 15 May 2026[29]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Feyenoord 2018–19 Eredivisie 11311—00—124
2019–20[c] Eredivisie 22240—9[d]1—353
2020–21 Eredivisie 22310—6[d]12[e]0314
2021–22 Eredivisie 32710—18[f]2—519
2022–23 Eredivisie 32841—10[d]3—4612
Total 11923112—4372017532
Benfica 2023–24 Primeira Liga 27740209[g]01[h]0437
2024–25 Primeira Liga 337313012[i]44[j]05512
Total 60147150214509819
Beşiktaş (loan) 2025–26 Süper Lig 30862—5[k]0—4110
Career total 209452455069117031461
  1. Includes KNVB Cup, Taça de Portugal, Turkish Cup
  2. Includes Taça da Liga
  3. Season curtailed due to COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands
  4. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. Appearances in Eredivisie European competition play-offs
  6. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  7. Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa League
  8. Appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira
  9. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  10. Appearances in FIFA Club World Cup
  11. One appearance in UEFA Europa League, four appearances in UEFA Conference League

International

As of match played 25 June 2026[30]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Turkey 202020
2021111
202250
202361
2024140
202581
202671
Total534

Scores and results list Turkey's goal tally first.[30]

International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 16 November 2021Podgorica City Stadium, Podgorica, Montenegro13 Montenegro2–12–12022 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 25 March 2023Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, Yerevan, Armenia19 Armenia1–12–1UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
3 20 March 2025Rams Park, Istanbul, Turkey39 Hungary1–03–12024–25 UEFA Nations League promotion/relegation play-offs
4 1 June 2026Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey49 North Macedonia1–04–0Friendly

Honours

Feyenoord

Benfica

Individual

References

  1. "Cookies op gelderlander.nl - gelderlander.nl". www.gelderlander.nl.
  2. Gouka, Mikos (10 December 2018). "Kökcü is bij Feyenoord een debutant van een andere orde". De Stentor (in Dutch).
  3. "The 50 Eredivisie U21 Stars To Watch 2018/19: Orkun Kokcu". Football Oranje. 8 August 2018.
  4. "Kökcü geeft visitekaartje af bij Feyenoord-debuut: 'Ongelooflijk trots'". www.vi.nl.
  5. "Emmen vs. Feyenoord - 9 December 2018". Soccerway.
  6. "Cookies op gelderlander.nl – gelderlander.nl". www.gelderlander.nl.
  7. "Kökcü na tekenmoment: 'Nu hoop ik op meer'". www.feyenoord.nl (in Dutch).
  8. "Principeakkoord: nieuw contract bindt Kökcü tot 2025 aan Feyenoord" (in Dutch). Feyenoord. 26 June 2020.
  9. "Warming-up: Slot benieuwd waar zijn selectie staat | Kökcü nieuwe Feyenoord-captain". NOS (in Dutch). 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  10. "Feyenoord verslaat Go Ahead en is na zes jaar weer kampioen van Nederland" [Feyenoord beats Go Ahead and is champions of the Netherlands after six years] (in Dutch). 14 May 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  11. "Kökcü é reforço do Benfica!" [Kökcü signs with Benfica!] (in Portuguese). S.L. Benfica. 10 June 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  12. "Benfica oficializa contratação de Kökçü: os detalhes do negócio" [Benfica make Kökçü's signing official: the details of the deal] (in Portuguese). Record. 10 June 2023. Archived from the original on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  13. "Benfica 2-0 FC Porto: A Musa que faltava a Schmidt para ganhar a Supertaça" [Benfica 2-0 FC Porto: The Musa that Schmidt lacked to win the Supercup]. SAPO Desporto (in European Portuguese). 9 August 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  14. "Kokçu estreia-se a marcar pelo SL Benfica com fantástico golo" (in Portuguese). Bola na Rede. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  15. Delgado, André (20 September 2023). "Entrada em falso do Benfica na Champions face à derrota frente ao Salzburgo" [Benfica's false entry into the Champions League following the defeat against Salzburg]. SAPO Desporto (in European Portuguese).
  16. "Oficial: Kokçu tem novo clube" [Official: Kokçu has a new club] (in Portuguese). abola.pt. 12 July 2025. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  17. "New Beşiktaş captains revealed". bjk.com. 17 October 2025. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  18. "OnsOranje: Jeugd mannen onder 18". onsoranje.nl.
  19. "OnsOranje: Jeugd mannen onder 19". onsoranje.nl.
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  21. "Turkey U21 vs. England U21 – 6 September 2019 – Soccerway". Soccerway.
  22. "Serbia v Turkey game report". UEFA. 6 September 2020.
  23. "Turkey Euro 2020 squad profile: Best player, manager and past Euros record". www.fourfourtwo.com. 4 June 2021..
  24. "A Millî Takımımızın EURO 2024 Kadrosu Açıklandı - A Milli Takım Haber Detayları TFF". www.tff.org. Retrieved 13 June 2024..
  25. "2026 Turkey World Cup roster: Complete 26-man team". 2 June 2026. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  26. Sporx (9 September 2014). "Hollanda'nin 10 numarasi bir TURK - Futbol". Sporx.
  27. "Orkun Kökçü kimdir? Orkun Kökçü kaç yaşında nereli?". 2 July 2025.
  28. "Orkun Kökçü'den flaş Beşiktaş açıklaması! - Orta Çizgi - Beşiktaş Haberleri | Beşiktaş Transfer Haberleri".
  29. Orkun Kökçü at Soccerway
  30. "Orkun Kökçü". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  31. "Soccerway Match Report". Soccerway. 4 August 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  32. "History: Roma 1-0 Feyenoord | UEFA Conference League 2021/22 Final". UEFA.com.
  33. "Taça da Liga pintada de vermelho e branco!" (in Portuguese). S.L. Benfica. 12 January 2025. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  34. Vaza, Marco (9 August 2023). "Benfica soube mudar para ganhar a Supertaça". Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  35. "Orkun Kökcü, Fenna Kalma, Xavi Simons and Esmee Brugts are the big winners of the Eredivisie Awards". Eredivisie. 4 September 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  36. "Oussama Idrissi named as eredivisie player of the month". Eredivisie. 17 January 2020. Archived from the original on 30 May 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
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  38. "AZ breaks through the Ajax stronghold in the Eredivisie team of the month". Eredivisie. 28 January 2022.
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  45. "Cody Gakpo is the Eredivisie Player of the Month for the second month running". Eredivisie. 4 November 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
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