Turkish Delight! Cenk Tosun & the 14 Other Turkish Players Who Have Played in the Premier League
Everton's £27m capture of Besiktas forward Cenk Tosun will make him the 15th Turkish player to have played in the Premier League.
But who are the 14 that have preceded him?
Let's take a look...
14. Gökhan Töre
Premier League club played for: West Ham
In reverse chronological order, first up is 25-year-old Turkish international winger Gokhan Tore, who spent last season with the Hammers, on loan from Besiktas, but was largely forgotten after just five appearances in the league.
13. Nuri Şahin
Premier League club played for: Liverpool
Another loan deal that did not quite work out as expected, Liverpool brought in cultured midfielder Nuri Sahin from Real Madrid at the start of the 2012/13 season and despite showing some promise, he quickly returned to former club Borussia Dortmund.
12. Jem Karacan
Premier League club played for: Reading
Playing in the top flight in the same season as Sahin, London-born Jem Karacan is well accustomed to English football having also featured for Bournemouth, Millwall and Bolton Wanderers, with whom he currently plays with in the Championship.
11. Kerim Frei
Premier League club played for: Fulham
The young winger spent two years in the Premier League with the Cottagers, before dropping down a tier with both Cardiff City and Birmingham City. The 24-year-old is now back in his native Turkey with Super Lig leaders Istanbul Basaksehir.
10. Yıldıray Baştürk
Premier League club played for: Blackburn Rovers
Bundesliga legend Yildiray Basturk made just the single Premier League appearance, during his short tenure with Blackburn Rovers, but it is enough to earn the former Bayer Leverkusen playmaker a place in this list.
9. Tuncay Şanlı
Premier League clubs played for: Middlesbrough, Stoke City and Bolton Wanderers
The second highest goalscorer in the history of the Turkish national side, former striker Tuncay Sanli saved some of his best performances for the Premier League, most notably during a two-year spell on Teesside.
8. Colin Kazim-Richards
Premier League club played for: Sheffield United
After failing to make the grade in Arsenal's academy, Colin Kazim-Richards finally made it to the top flight with Sheffield United, following spells with both Bury and Brighton, and has since embarked on a globetrotting career, playing in France, Greece and now Brazil.
7. Emre Belözoğlu
Premier League club played for: Newcastle United
One of the most successful Turkish players from the Premier League era, Emre Belozoglu arrived on Tyneside in 2005 after making a name for himself at Inter Milan. The left-footed midfielder spent three seasons with the Magpies and is still playing today.
6. Hakan Şükür
Premier League club played for: Blackburn Rovers
Arguably the greatest Turkish player of all time, legendary goalscorer Hakan Sukur arrived at Ewood Park for a single season during his twilight years, scoring twice in just nine appearances for Rovers.
5. Bülent Akın
Premier League club played for: Bolton Wanderers
You could forgive Trotters fans to have forgotten about this defensive midfielder. Akin spent a single season with Bolton but it was one to forget after getting sent off on his debut in the League Cup, before going on to make one appearance in the league.
4. Hakan Ünsal
Premier League club played for: Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn consistently had strong Turkish representation during their time in the Premier League and Unsal was another who briefly appeared in the top flight, after the left full-back signed from Galatasaray in 2002.
3. Tugay Kerimoğlu
Premier League club played for: Blackburn Rovers
However, the first Turkish individual to don the blue and white of Blackburn is arguably the finest to feature in the Premier League. Tenacious midfielder Tugay spent eight seasons with Rovers, producing some memorable strikes and becoming a cult hero.
2. Alpay Özalan
Premier League club played for: Aston Villa
The dominating centre-back was just the second of his nation to feature in the Premier League, after he swapped Fenerbahce for Aston Villa in the summer of 2000, following an impressive display at the Euros.
1. Muzzy Izzet
Premier League club played for: Leicester City and Birmingham City
The original Turkish Premier League player, Muzzy Izzet qualified for the national team through his father, but the London-born midfielder played his entire career in England, most notably with the Foxes, with whom he made over 250 league appearances.