Transfers
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Anthony Dennis swaps Göztepe for Al-Jazira in confirmed summer switch
The 21-year-old Nigerian midfielder, who logged 31 Süper Lig appearances last season, has completed a transfer to the UAE side.
Midfielder Anthony Dennis has completed a move from Göztepe to Al-Jazira, with the transfer confirmed on 22 August 2026. The 21-year-old Nigerian spent last season as a regular in Göztepe's midfield, making 31 league appearances and contributing three goals across 2,472 minutes of action.
At a glance
- Age & Role: 21-year-old Nigerian midfielder, jersey number 30
- The Move: Transfer from Göztepe to Al-Jazira, completed 22 August 2026
- Recent Pedigree: 31 Süper Lig apps, 3 goals, 6.76 rating for Göztepe in 2025
Career context
Dennis progressed through Göztepe's ranks before breaking into the senior side, where he became a mainstay in the 2025 Süper Lig campaign. His 31 league appearances that season — 29 in the starting XI — underline his emergence as a reliable option in midfield. The Nigerian's season was not without incident: he served a red card suspension between 30 October and 1 November 2024, and picked up two yellow-card suspensions, most recently between 31 January and 2 February 2025.
His physical profile — 179 cm tall, 75 kg — suggests a player built for the demands of regular football, and his attribute breakdown reflects a technically sound midfielder: technique rated 86, duels 79, defence 64, and modest attacking and creativity scores of 17 each. That profile aligns with a ball-winning or box-to-box role rather than a pure playmaker.
On the trophy front, Dennis collected two second-place finishes in Turkey's 1. Lig during the 2023/24 season, evidence of a player accustomed to competing at a high level.
How he fits at his new club
Al-Jazira, founded in 1974 and based in the United Arab Emirates, offer Dennis the chance to step into a more prominent continental arena. The club's established status in UAE football provides a platform for regular minutes, and Dennis's 2025 numbers suggest he arrives ready to contribute immediately.
Apps
Goals
Assists
Minutes
Rating
His season stats — 825 total passes at 77% accuracy, 13 key passes, 52 tackles, 35 interceptions and 308 duels won at a 46% success rate — point to a midfielder comfortable in a possession-based system who also offers defensive cover. With 45 attempted dribbles yielding 22 successes (49% conversion), he brings a degree of individual progression ability that could suit a UAE Pro League side looking to add energy in transition.
The lack of a transfer fee reported means Al-Jazira have moved for the player in a deal whose structure remains undisclosed, allowing them to add a midfielder with top-flight experience at a relatively modest cost.
Recent numbers
For Göztepe in the 2025 Süper Lig season, Dennis produced a consistent and busy campaign:
- Appearances: 31 (29 starts, 2 substitute appearances)
- Minutes: 2,472
- Goals: 3
- Assists: 0
- Rating: 6.76
- Pass accuracy: 77% (825/1,071 passes)
- Key passes: 13
- Duels won: 141 of 308 (46%)
- Tackles: 52
- Interceptions: 35
- Dribbles: 22 of 45 successful (49%)
- Yellow cards: 9 (no reds)
These figures paint the picture of a workhorse midfielder who stayed fit enough to feature in nearly every league game, contributing defensively and chipping in with a modest goal return. His pass accuracy of 77% indicates reliability in build-up play, while his tackle and interception counts suggest he was among Göztepe's more active ball-winners.
Key takeaways
| Metric | Anthony Dennis (2025) |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 31 |
| Minutes played | 2,472 |
| Goals | 3 |
| Pass accuracy | 77% |
| Tackles | 52 |
| Duels won | 141 |
| Rating | 6.76 |
- Dennis arrives at Al-Jazira with a full season of Süper Lig action under his belt, suggesting he is accustomed to a high-tempo, physical league.
- His defensive output — 52 tackles, 35 interceptions, 141 duels won — makes him a viable candidate for a holding or box-to-box midfield role in the UAE.
- At 21, he represents a long-term asset for Al-Jazira, whose 2025 campaign saw him play nearly every minute of league action.
- The absence of a reported fee indicates a low-risk addition for a club seeking to reinforce midfield experience without a significant financial outlay.