The foreign player rule to be implemented in the Trendyol Süper Lig for the 2026-2027 season includes a significant change that will deeply affect the squad engineering of clubs. I wanted to look at how this rule came to be and the current state of the squad.
The Announcement Process of the New Foreign Rule
The foreign rule planned for the 2026-27 season actually underwent a revision during the process and evolved into the current "10+4" format:
- Initial Planning (Jan 11, 2024): The previous TFF management announced a 5-year projection, stating the foreign limit would be reduced to "11" as of the 2026-2027 season.
- Rule Update (April 18, 2025): When the TFF published the "2025-2026 Season Süper Lig Player Eligibility" instructions, it revised the rule for the following season (26/27). In this official document, it was recorded for the first time that clubs could have 14 foreigners for the 2026-27 season, but at least 4 of these players must have been born on or after 01.01.2004.
- Final Approval and Reminder (May 12, 2026): Current TFF President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu confirmed the official transition by reminding clubs once again that a strict 10+4 (10 open age + 4 youth) rule would be applied instead of 12+2 in the new season.
Galatasaray Squad Analysis (For the 2026-2027 Season)
Although the new rule allows for a total of 14 foreigners, the criterion that will truly challenge clubs is age. Looking at Galatasaray's current squad as of May 2026 and players returning from loan, a serious need for revision is evident for compliance.
- Standard Quota: Maximum 10 players with no age limit.
- Youth Quota: Maximum 4 players born on or after 01.01.2004.
Those Caught by the Age Limit (Born Before 01.01.2004) - Max 10 People: Players in Galatasaray's current pool who fall into this quota and have contracts/are in the team:
- Mauro Icardi (1993) - June 2026
- Mario Lemina (1993) - June 2026
- Ismail Jakobs (1999) - June 2027
- Lucas Torreira (1996) - June 2028
- Leroy Sané (1996) - June 2028
- Roland Sallai (1997) - June 2028
- Wilfried Singo (2000) - June 2028
- Davinson Sánchez (1996) - June 2029
- Victor Osimhen (1998) - June 2029
- Gabriel Sara (1999) - June 2029
NET RESULT: GS must send a player from this group to sign a new player for this group!
Returning from Loan / Contracted:
Nicolò Zaniolo
- Loaned Team: Udinese
- GS Contract End: May 31, 2027
- Buy Option: 10 million Euro buy option.
- Probability of return is very low. It's rumored Udinese will use the option and then sell him to Milan.
Elias Jelert
- Loaned Team: Southampton
- GS Contract End: 2029
- Buy Option: 8.5 million Euro buy option.
- It's rumored Southampton won't use the option and the player will return.
RESULT: If any player from this group returns, since both players were born before 01.01.2004, they are included in the above group and exceed the limit of 10. Therefore, if one of these players is to be included in the group and stay at the club, a player from the same group must be sent away.
Players Who Won't Return from Loan:
Victor Nelsson
- Loaned Team: Hellas Verona
- GS Contract End: 2026
- Buy Option: 8 million Euro buy option.
Carlos Cuesta (Special Case)
- Loaned Team: Vasco da Gama
- GS Contract End: 2028
- Buy/Loan Status: 5.75 million Euro buy option. However, Vasco da Gama activated the +1 year extension option in the loan contract, extending the loan period until December 31, 2026. Therefore, he will not return to the team at the start of the 2026-27 season.
Przemysław Frankowski
- Loaned Team: Stade Rennais (Rennes)
- GS Contract End: 2028
- Buy Option: 5.7 million Euro mandatory buy option.
RESULT: The club no longer has a relationship with these players.
Loan Contracts Ending:
- Sacha Boey (2000)
- Noa Lang (1999)
- Yáser Asprilla (Nov 2003)
RESULT: If an agreement is reached with any player from this group again, since all players were born before 01.01.2004, they are included in the above group and exceed the limit of 10. Therefore, if one of these players is to be included in the group and stay at the club, a player from the same group must be sent away.
Those Who Fit the New Rule (Born on or after 01.01.2004) - Target 4 People:
- Renato Nhaga (2006) - June 2030
- Can Armando Güner (2008 - Dual citizenship/Foreign status) - June 2030
As far as I know, this player's father is Turkish and his mother is German of Argentine descent. The player holds German/Argentine passports. He also has a Blue Card, so he is currently accepted in Turkish Status. However, at the end of the contract period, i.e., in 2030, if a contract renewal is in question, he will be included in Foreign Status in the new contract period since he does not meet the A National Team playing criteria. This is the information I reached; I would be very happy if I could get an expert opinion to confirm it.
RESULT: This is the window of opportunity for GS. 3 new player transfers can be made to this group.
SUMMARY:
- Obligation to Sell Before Buying New Players: To buy a new player born before 01.01.2004, a player from this group must be sent away! Icardi and Lemina contract renewals are strategically important for this reason. If contracts are not signed with these players, 2 spots open up in this group.
- Disadvantage for those born 2000-2003: Players like Elias Jelert and Yáser Asprilla, although they fit the "youth" profile, occupy the team's valuable 10-person "heavy hitter" quota because they were born before 01.01.2004. Keeping these players will limit the number of main players like Icardi, Torreira, Sanchez, Sara, Osimhen, and Sané. Therefore, keeping these players is meaningless!
- Youth (2004+) Transfer Need: If Galatasaray wants to use its full right to 14 foreigners, it must find foreign potentials born after 01.01.2004 (under 22) from the market.
STRATEGIC APPROACH:
The 10+4 rule is not an end point, but a beginning.
In the 5-year projection announced by the TFF in 2024, it was signaled that the foreign limit would be gradually reduced. 2026-27 is just the first stop on this path. If the plan continues, it wouldn't be a surprise if the "open age" quota drops from 10 to 8 or even lower in the coming seasons.
What Galatasaray needs to do now is price in this scenario: in every new foreign transfer, the question "will this player still fit my quota 3 years from now?" now becomes a mandatory filter.
Long-term foreign transfers made with short-term performance calculations carry a risk that could paralyze squad planning in future seasons.
And actually, this issue should have been the club's most important agenda item for a few years. Talking about this today feels a bit amateurish to me.
