FC Volendam, recently promoted, has signed Orkun Kökçü’s older brother on Tuesday in their effort to stay in the Eredivisie. Ozan Kökçü was available on a free transfer after playing for the Finnish club HJK Helsinki for a year.
The 26-year-old Kökçü signs a one-year contract with an option for another year with the champion from the Keuken Kampioen Divisie, who will be playing at the highest level again after a season’s absence.
“I am very happy to return to the Netherlands at FC Volendam,” says Kökçü, who, unlike his brother, is a left winger. “I am ready to give everything and make my contribution to making it a great season in the Eredivisie.”
For FC Volendam, Kökçü is the first reinforcement for the new season. “Last season he was already in our shadow team, but he then opted for a foreign adventure,” says technical director Patrick Busby. “We are happy that Ozan is now choosing us.”
Like his younger brother, Kökçü played in Feyenoord’s youth academy, but he did not break through there. He later ended up in professional football at RKC. He then served a series of clubs, including Telstar and FC Eindhoven. He also played thirteen international matches for Azerbaijan.
Orkün Kökçü has been playing for Benfica since the summer of 2023. The Portuguese top club paid a record amount of 25 million euros at the time to take him over from Feyenoord, with whom he won the national title in the same year. He is now a permanent fixture in the Turkish national team.