Ivorian football star Serge Aurier, fresh off his victory in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, has chosen to continue his career with Turkish Süper Lig giants Galatasaray. The club, renowned for its association with the legendary Didier Drogba, officially announced Aurier’s signing on the evening of Wednesday, February 14, 2024.
Earlier this month, Aurier’s former club Nottingham Forest hinted at the transfer, stating: “Serge Aurier has completed a permanent move to Turkish Süper Lig side Galatasaray. The 31-year-old joined Forest in September 2022 and made 41 appearances for the Reds in all competitions. The defender, who has played 13 times this season, now heads to Turkey to join Okan Buruk’s team. We would like to thank Serge for his contribution during his time at The City Ground and wish him all the best for the future.”
Aurier, who moved to France as a child, has had stints with Lens, Toulouse, and Paris Saint-Germain, winning 11 major trophies with the latter. He amassed 195 appearances in France and was twice named in Ligue 1’s Team of the Year. In 2017, he joined Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of around £23 million and left after the mutual termination of his contract in August 2021.
Since making his international debut for Ivory Coast in 2013, Aurier has earned over 90 caps, serving as captain since 2017. He represented the nation at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and five Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, winning the 2015 and 2023 editions.
Aurier’s move to Galatasaray continues the trend of Ivorian talent gracing the club, following in the footsteps of Didier Drogba. With Galatasaray leading the Süper Lig, Aurier’s addition is expected to bolster the team’s chances of success in domestic and international competitions.
