Taylor as successor at Lazio
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Former Herthan player Mattéo Guendouzi’s move to Turkey’s top club Fenerbahce is perfect. The 26-year-old Lazio midfielder was presented in Istanbul on Thursday evening. The Turks are expected to pay the Italians €28 million, which would make him the most expensive signing in the club’s history. An additional 2 million euros in bonuses would have to be added.
According to transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, Lazio have found what they were looking for in the Netherlands. Ajax Amsterdam’s Kenneth Taylor is due to undergo a medical in Rome on Friday. As a result, the 23-year-old will receive €15 million plus €2 million in bonuses. He signed a contract until 2030.
Guendouzi, who played for Hertha BSC in the 2020/21 season, joined the Italian capital in the summer of 2024 after a one-year, €13 million loan deal. Since then, the Frenchman has been Lazio’s undisputed midfield starter and has played 111 matches. He scored six goals and ten assists. After finishing seventh last year, the two-time Scudetto winner is not represented at international level this season and is currently ninth in Serie A.
It was only during the summer that Fenerbahce signed a new record transfer. Kerem Aktürkoğlu arrived in the Bosphorus from Benfica for 22.5 million euros. The club, coached by German-Italian Domenico Tedesco, is on track to achieve record spending. Even before Guendouzi’s transfer, these amounted to 92 million euros – the Canaries have never had higher investments. For the first time in the club’s history, spending over a season now exceeds the 100 million mark.
Guendouzi ranks fourth among the most expensive new signings in Süper Lig history. The undisputed leader is Victor Osimhen, for whom Galatasaray paid 75 million euros to Naples this summer. Fenerbahce are still undefeated this season and are still only second in the table behind local rival Galatasaray (in the standings). The gap is three points. Guendouzi should help win his first championship since 2014.
This article first appeared on January 8 at 7:12 a.m. and has been updated following confirmation from the clubs.