Kuyt signs 3-year contract with Fenerbahçe

ISTANBUL

Dutch forward Dirk Kuyt (C) poses yesterday wearing a Fenerbahçe jersey. AFP photo

Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt signed a three-year contract with Istanbul club Fenerbahçe yesterday at a ceremony held at the club’s Şükrü Saraçoğlu Stadium.

Kuyt paid his respects to the Turkish troops killed in a recent Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) attack when speaking at the ceremony and received a major cheer from the 5,000 Fenerbahçe supporters in the stands.

“This my second day in Istanbul, but I already feel at home, said the former Liverpool winger, who paid tribute to his former club and its supporters.

“I had great times at Liverpool, now the Fenerbahçe era starts in my career and I’m sure I will have better times here,” he said. “I believe that this will not be too difficult with the magnificent supporters the club has. I want to be a part of Fenerbahçe’s glorious history.”

Fenerbahçe board member Ali Yıldırım said the club will aim for the league title in the new season, adding that the chairman Aziz Yıldırım, who is currently in prison pending trial for match fixing charges, and the board will do their best to bring success to the club.

Fenebahçe, which was banned from the Champions League competition, is still waiting an official response from UEFA to be able to participate in the event next season.

According to Turkish media, Fenerbahçe will pay 1 million euros to Liverpool, as well as 7.5 million euros to Kuyt for three years.

Kuyt, who can either play up front or on the wing, was a part of the Netherlands squad at Euro 2012, which bid farewell to the event in group stage.

Kuyt was a member of the Dutch side that lost 1-0 to Spain in the 2010 World Cup final.

The 32-year-old had 51 goals in 207 games at Liverpool, where he was a runner-up in the 2007 Champions League, 2009 Premier League and 2012 FA Cup. The only trophy he enjoyed with the Reds was last season’s League Cup.

Kuyt was the top goal scorer in the Dutch League with 29 goals for Feyenoord in the 2004-05 season.