Turkish International Cengiz Ünder Joins Leicester City On Loan

Press Release
20 Sep 2020
2 Minutes
Leicester City Football Club have agreed terms with A.S. Roma for the loan of Turkish international Cengiz Ünder until the end of the season, subject to Premier League and international clearance.

- Cengiz Ünder joins Leicester City on loan for 2020/21 from A.S. Roma
- The 23-year-old spent the past three seasons playing in Serie A
- Turkish winger has made 21 international appearances  

The 23-year-old has spent the last three seasons in Serie A and will now join up with his new team-mates ahead of this weekend’s game against Burnley at King Power Stadium.

An international teammate of City defender Çağlar Söyüncü, the winger has 21 caps to his name, and made his senior debut for his country aged 19.

Speaking to LCFC.com, Cengiz said: “I can’t wait to go to Leicester and start training. I’ve always wanted to play in England and this is a great opportunity to play in the Premier League.

“I will try to help my team-mates on the pitch and off the pitch and I believe that I can improve my performance every day. I think I am fast and can create lots of chances for my colleagues. 

“I feel very good because my best friend plays for Leicester City. I am very happy to be able to play with Çağlar [Söyüncü] and I always watched Leicester’s games because of him.”

He joined Italian side A.S. Roma from İstanbul Başakşehir in the summer of 2017, and became the youngest Turkish player to score in the UEFA Champions League when he made his debut in the competition against Shakhtar Donetsk in February 2018.

Born in Sındırgı, Ünder, alongside Söyüncü, is a product of the Altinordu youth system and progressed to their First Team before securing a move to İstanbul Başakşehir ahead of the 2016/17 Süper Lig campaign.

After starring for Başakşehir and establishing himself as one of his country’s most exciting talents, Ünder moved to the Italian capital and joined A.S. Roma, making his bow against Inter Milan in August 2017.

He netted seven times in 26 Serie A games in his first season at Stadio Olimpico before scoring a further eight goals in all competitions the following year, including three strikes in the UEFA Champions League.

Last season, the Turkish wideman found the net on three occasions in 18 league games as Paulo Fonseca’s side finished in fifth place.

Internationally, Ünder has won 21 caps and scored six goals, with his debut coming against Kosovo in a FIFA World Cup qualifier in December 2016. More recently, he helped his country to qualify for UEFA Euro 2020, due to take place next year.