Yusuf Akçiçek
Country: Türkiye
Date of birth: 25/01/2006 (18 years old)
Place of birth: Türkiye
Height: 193cm
Youth career: Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe (since 2019)
Current club: Fenerbahçe
Squad number: 95
Current national team: Türkiye U-18
Position: central defender, left-back
Preferred foot: left
Market value (by transfermarkt.de): 50.000 €
Tournaments participated in: 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification elite round (3/0)
Contract until: 30.06.2026
Player’s agent: FutureBall
Transfer rumours: —
Similar type of player: Francesco Acerbi
Strengths:
– positioning 
– aerial duels
– physicality
– bravery
– anticipation 
– tackling
– passing
To improve:
– can be overly aggressive in duels/reckless or dangerous tackling
– explosivity
Style of play:
– complete, elegant, and dominant centre-back
– tall with an excellent body mass ratio and physical strength for his age
– decent top speed and agility for his size
– suitable to play as a left-sided centre-back in a three-man defence system and even as a left-back if needed
– likes to leave the line and prefers an active style of defending by pressing, playing close to opponents, and getting into challenges
– likes to spread play with good long-range diagonals
– composed and cultured passer with a proclivity for breaking the lines with intricate vertical balls
– above-average confidence under pressure
– committed and combative player with a very good rate of individual and collective work
– aggressive and tenacious tackler
– extremely dominant in the air
– charismatic and mature for his age/potential leader of the defensive line
– knows how to use his upper-body strength in challenges/wins most of the physical duels
– operates quite comfortably with his weaker right foot
Akçiçek reads the game well and intercepts a dangerous pass.
Akçiçek leaves the line and makes a superbly timed tackle to stop a dangerous counter.
Akçiçek stays calm under pressure and plays a fantastic line-breaking pass.
Heatmap by Wyscout:
He is best suited to playing as:
Central defender in 4-3-3.
Video:
Achievements:
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League summary (as for 29 July 2024):
Süper Lig 2023/2024: 1 game/0 goals (Fenerbahçe)
Description:
Yusuf Akçiçek joined the Fenerbahçe youth academy from Galatasaray in 2019. He is considered to be one of the most talented U19s in Türkiye. On 9 November 2023, he made his professional debut for Fener in the UEFA Europa Conference League away game against Ludogorets. Yusuf is also a regular youth international for Türkiye and currently he’s one of the leaders of the U-18 setup.
Quotes:
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Football Talent Scout potential rating:
8/10 
First team material in a top European league.
Links: