Orkun Kökçü

Orkun Kökçü (; born 29 December 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Süper Lig club Beşiktaş, whom he captains. Born in the Netherlands, he plays for the Turkey national team.

Club career Feyenoord A youth product of FC Groningen, where he arrived after having played for local clubs around his hometown Haarlem, Kökçü joined the Feyenoord youth academy in 2014. He made his debut for Feyenoord at the age of 17 in a 4–0 win over VV Gemert in the first round of the KNVB Cup on 17 September 2018, scoring Feyenoord's second goal. He made his Eredivisie debut against FC Emmen on 9 December 2018, and contributed with a goal and an assist after coming on as a substitute. On 10 April 2019, he extended his contract at Feyenoord until 2023. On 26 June 2020, he reached an agreement to extend his contract with Feyenoord for another two years, a deal to the end of the 2024–25 season.

Following Jens Toornstra's departure, Feyenoord head coach Arne Slot chose Kökçü as his club captain on 2 September 2022. With Kökçü as captain, Feyenoord went on to win the 2022–23 Eredivisie.

Benfica On 10 June 2023, Kökçü joined Benfica on a five-year deal for a reported fee of €25 million, plus €5 million in variables. The sum represented a record signing for the Portuguese club and the league surpassing Darwin Núñez transfer from Almería to Benfica in 2020 for transfer fee of €24 million and a club record sale for Feyenoord becoming the club's biggest sale since Kökçu's former Feyenoord teammate Luis Sinisterra's transfer to Leeds United in 2022 for a fee of €25 million.

Kökçü made his debut for Benfica in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, starting in a 2–0 win over rivals FC Porto. He scored his first goal on 2 September, netting Benfica's third goal in a 4–0 home win over Vitória de Guimarães. Kökçü made his UEFA Champions League debut on 20 September, starting in a 2–0 home loss to Red Bull Salzburg.

Beşiktaş On 12 July 2025, Kökçü agreed on a loan deal with Süper Lig club Beşiktaş with an obligation to buy. On 17 October 2025, Kökçü was appointed as the new captain of the team.

International career

Kökçü was a youth international for the Netherlands, having represented the Netherlands U18s, and Netherlands U19s. In July 2019, Kökçü announced the intent to play for the Turkey national team. He represented the Turkey U21s in a 3–2 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification loss to the England U21s on 6 September 2019.

He made his Turkey national team debut on 6 September 2020 in a Nations League game against Serbia, he started the game and played the first hour of the 0–0 away draw.

In June 2021, Kökçü was included in the list of 26 Turkish players selected to compete at UEFA Euro 2020.

On 7 June 2024, he was named in the final squad of 26 players chosen by Vincenzo Montella to take part in UEFA Euro 2024.

On 2 June 2026, Kökçü was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Personal life Born in the Netherlands, Kökçü is of Turkish descent, from Suvermez, Emirdağ. He is the younger brother of the professional footballer Ozan Kökçü who plays internationally for the Azerbaijan national team. He is a lifelong fan of Beşiktaş and indicated a desire to play for the club he had been supporting since childhood.

Career statistics Club

International

Scores and results list Turkey's goal tally first. UEFA Europa Conference League runner-up: 2022

Benfica Taça da Liga: 2024–25 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2023

Individual Eredivisie Player of the Year: 2022–23 Eredivisie Talent of the Month: December 2019, March 2021 Eredivisie Player of the Month: January 2022, February 2022 Eredivisie Team of the Month: August 2021, December 2021, January 2022, February 2022, April 2022, September 2022, October 2022, November 2022, March 2023, April 2023 Primeira Liga Goal of the Month: September 2023 Primeira Liga Midfielder of the Month: March 2025