Oguzhan Ozyakup

Oguzhan Ozyakup (born 23 September 1992), also known as Ozzie or Ozzy, is a Turkish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Besiktas and the Turkish national team.

Born in Zaandam, the Netherlands, Ozyakup has previously featured for clubs AZ and Arsenal. While at Arsenal, he won the 2008–09 and 2009–10 Premier Academy League, as well as the 2008–09 FA Youth Cup. Ozyakup also won the 2015–16 and 2016–17 Super Lig with Besiktas.

Ozyakup represented Netherlands at U-17 which he also captained and, U-19 levels until he switched to represent Turkey in 2012. He represented Turkey 7 times at U-21 level, scoring twice. Earned his first senior international cap in 2013, Ozyakup is a current Turkish international, being a part of Euro 2016 squad, representing the nation 42 times and scoring once.

Club Career

Early years

Ozyakup was born in Zaandam, Netherlands, to Turkish parents from the city of Trabzon who emigrated to the Netherlands. His father is into the wholesale nourishment business. Oguzhan is the youngest of two siblings.

Ozyakup began his career at Zaandam Turkspor, a local amateur club which Dutch players with Turkish descent were predominantly recruited, where he later caught the attraction of AZ officials. He was invited to trials of AZ at age 11, in which he succeeded and was recruited.

Arsenal

Ozyakup signed for Arsenal on schoolboy forms on 1 September 2008, going on to play regularly for Arsenal's Academy. With the Academy, Ozyakup won the Premier Academy League of 2008–09 and 2009–10. He also was triumphant in lifting the FA Youth Cup of 2008–09 with the Gunners.

On 28 August 2011, Ozyakup was named a substitute for the Premier League match against Manchester United in which the London-based club suffered a heavy 8–2 defeat. He made his competitive first-team debut in September 2011 in a League Cup match against Shrewsbury Town, where he supplied the assist for Yossi Benayoun to round off

This page also has a version in other languages :  Оузхан Озьякуп (russian)