Bayer Leverkusen's joins Beşiktaş on loan
Winger Ernest Poku has left Bayer Leverkusen to join Türkiye's Beşiktaş on loan for the 2026/27 season.
Poku, who joined Bayer Leverkusen ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, could complete a permanent transfer to Beşiktaş if certain conditions are met.
Upon the announcement, Leverkusen's managing director for sport Simon Rolfes said, "Ernest Poku has made a name for himself in Germany and across Europe as a fast attacker. His performances in the Bundesliga and the UEFA Champions League have made an impression. With his footballing profile, Ernest has everything it takes to establish himself in Besiktas's high-quality squad."
Poku, who has 21 caps for the Netherlands' U21s, made the switch to Leverkusen from AZ Alkmaar in the summer of 2025. The winger performed well across the campaign, scoring five goals and providing five assists in 29 Bundesliga appearances, yet he didn't start any of the final eight league games of the term.
He is the 12th departure from the BayArena this summer. Leverkusen, under new head coach Carles Martínez, kicked off their campaign with a 4-0 victory at Wehen Wiesbaden in the first round of the DFB Cup last weekend, and will now play Elversberg on Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CEST) in their opening Bundesliga fixture of the season.
