Efe Sarıkaya

Efe Sarıkaya (born 30 November 2005) is a Turkish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for TFF 1. Lig club Çorum on loan from Grenoble.

Club career Born in İzmir, Sarıkaya began his footballing career with Altay, and remained there for his entire youth career, apart from a short stint with Çamdibi Yeşilova Esnafspor in the 2017–2018 season.

Sarıkaya made his professional debut at the end of the 2021–22 Süper Lig season, coming on as a late substitute for Kazımcan Karataş in a 2–1 away loss to Trabzonspor on 15 May 2022. With Altay already effectively relegated, he was given one further game in May 2022, playing the full 90 minutes in a 4–2 home loss to Kasımpaşa. He signed a professional contract with the club in February 2022, keeping him with the club until 2024.

In September 2022, following impressive performances for Altay in the Turkish second tier, he was linked with Turkish clubs Beşiktaş, Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe. In January 2023, he expressed that his priority was to continue at Altay, despite the interest from a number of clubs.

Atlético Madrid followed up their interest in Sarıkaya in April 2023, with Altay manager Tuna Üzümcü claiming that the club had received an official offer from Atlético, as well as fellow Spanish side Sevilla and English Premier League side Manchester City, with the Turkish side rejecting all three bids.

On 1 February 2024, Sarıkaya signed a five-year contract with Grenoble.

International career Sarıkaya has represented Turkey at under-18 and under-19 levels.

Style of play A left-footed defender, Sarıkaya operates mostly at centre-back, although he has been played as a left-back in some instances.