Mario Lemina, the Gabon international midfielder at Galatasaray, is being linked with a move across Istanbul to Besiktas as the Super Lig side explore options to strengthen their defensive midfield. Talks are described as at an early stage, with the prospect of a deal currently rated at around a 20% likelihood.
Lemina, 32, has a contract at Galatasaray running until 30 June 2028 after joining from Wolves in February 2025 for a fee of €2.5m. Any negotiations are therefore expected to be complex, with Galatasaray in a strong position over the player’s future and under no immediate pressure to sell.
The move would reunite Lemina with a league he knows well. He has made 59 Super Lig appearances across his spells in Turkey, adding three goals and three assists from a holding midfield role, and was part of the Galatasaray side that secured back-to-back Turkish titles in 2024-25 and 2025-26.
Lemina also brings extensive experience from Europe’s top leagues, including 145 Premier League outings and a spell in Serie A with Juventus, where he twice won the Italian title and reached a Champions League final. His current market value is estimated at €4.5m, a figure that could form a reference point if Besiktas decide to formalise their interest.
For now, Lemina remains a key part of Galatasaray’s squad, wearing the number 99 shirt, with three years left on his deal and the club in firm control of any potential departure.
