Stoke City Lead Chase for Turkish Starlet Berkay Yılmaz After Standout Bundesliga 2 Season

Stoke City are among a number of Championship clubs monitoring Turkish youngster Berkay Yılmaz, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

The talented 21-year-old left-back has been lighting up Bundesliga 2 this season. And his performances on loan at FC Nũmberg during a two-season loan deal have caught the eye of suitors in England. 

The defender boasts the record for most duels won in the division this season with a whopping 354 and his ability to turn over possession, coupled with his attacking flair, has made him a highly sought after acquisition this summer.

Charlton Athletic, who have Southampton’s James Bree as their top target, are understood to have added the player to their wanted list.

Our sources have been told Bristol City scouted the former Turkey youth international earlier this season. 

Rangers were rebuffed in their approach for the player during the winter window as Yilmaz decided to remain in Germany and it remains unclear whether that stance has since changed with a queue growing for his signature. 

Talent To Burn

Yilmaz moved around a lot during his younger days before settling at the SC Freiburg academy in 2020.

He signed professional terms at the club the following year and scored once in 14 games for their reserve side Freiburg II.

In 2024, he moved to FC Nûmberg on loan and has continued to impress at the club this term.

Yilmaz attracted interest from the likes of Juventus earlier in his career and is renowned for his pace, ability to overlap and deadly crosses with his left foot.

As well as his impressive tackles won stat, Yilmaz, clocked at almost 33kmp/h, has an instinct to get forward and has produced five assists as well as having 16 shots at goal.

He was named in the Team of the Tournament during the European U19s tournament last summer.