Başakşehir announces deal with Barça's Arda Turan

ISTANBUL

Turkish Super League leader Istanbul Başaksehir officially announced that they had reached an agreement to sign midfielder Arda Turan on loan from Barcelona.

"Arda Turan is returning to his country wearing the orange kit (of Basaksehir). This is not just a transfer for Basaksehir, but a transfer for all of Turkey," club president Göksel Gümüşdağ said in a statement.

In a tweet, the club shared a video of a crossword being filled in with the key answers being "Arda Turan."

Başaksehir have risen rapidly over the last two seasons to rival the established Istanbul triumvirate of Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray.

Barcelona and the Istanbul club agreed on a one-and-a-half year loan with an optional extra year, state broadcaster TRT Spor and Hurriyet daily reported.

Gümüşdağ visited Barcelona earlier this week to meet Turan.

Turan, 30, joined Barcelona in 2015 after four successful seasons with Atletico Madrid but he has failed to hold down a first team place.