Mesut Ozil is a household name in the world of football and he once entered the list of most expensive players in the history of German players after signing for Arsenal in a transfer deal worth £42.5 million (€50 million). Ozil rose to fame playing for Real Madrid and went on to cement his name firmly when he joined the premier league side in 2013, becoming one of the key players of Arsenal at the time.
However, since his exit from the Premier League in 2021 his name is slowly dwindling from the football scene. So, where is he and which team does he play now? is he planning to retire from professional football soon? all this and much more are covered in this article.
Where is Mesut Ozil?
Mesut Ozil is a German Profession footballer currently playing for a Turkish Super Lig club Istanbul Basaksehir as an attacking midfielder but can also be deployed as a wide midfielder. The Gelsenkirchen native is well-known for his technical skills, passing ability, and taste for unique goals.
Mesut signed a one-year contract with an option of an additional one year with Istanbul on 14th July 2022 after he was excluded from the Fenerbahce squad. His agreement with Fernabahce was mutually terminated.
Mesut Ozil Bio
Born and raised in Gelsenkirchen, West Germany as the son of a Turkish immigrant, Ozil began his professional football journey at Schalke 04, where he made his professional debut in 2006 after one stint at the club’s youth team. He quickly established himself as one of the most promising prospects in German football, and after two seasons with Schalke, he transferred to Werder Bremen in 2008. His move to Werder came after his fallout with the club management after he declined an offer from the club citing €1.5 million was too small for him.
Despite the fallout with Schalke 04, Ozil quickly established himself as a key player in the Werder Bremen camp, helping them to win the DFB-Pokal in 2009. On top of that, he was also named the best player in the Bundesliga for the 2009-10 season. This promoted his name a notch higher and some of the biggest clubs in Europe began hunting him for his services.
After two successful seasons at Werder, in 2010, Ozil joined Spanish giants Real Madrid, reuniting with his former Werder Bremen coach, Jose Mourinho. By the time he joined the club he had advanced his skills and even some of the prominent players at the time like Wayne Rooney admired his style of play.
Despite links to different clubs, Ozil arrived at Real Madrid camp and he quickly established himself as a key player in the team. He went on to help the club win the La Liga title in 2012 and the Copa del Rey in 2011. On top of that, he was part of Real Madrid’s squad that reached the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2012.
In 2013, Ozil joined the English club Arsenal on a then-club-record transfer of £42.5 million (€50 million), becoming the most expensive German player at the time. Following his arrival, Ozil adopted the league quickly and went on to help the club win the FA Cup in 2014, 2015, and 2017. Additionally, he helped the club to reach the final of the League Cup in 2016.
In the 2018-19 season, Ozil’s role in the team became less prominent, and he didn’t play much under new coach Unai Emery. After eight successful seasons at the Gunners camp, Ozil eventually left the club in 2021 as a free agent after his contract with the club was terminated due to allegations of forgoing part of the £7 million (€7.9 million) owed to him by the club.
After that, he moved to his ancestor’s land, Turkey joining one of the best clubs, Fenerbahce. Ozil signed a three-year contract with the club worth £4.5 million (€5 million) a season and received a £2.6 million (€3 million) signing-on bonus. His performance at the club was super impressive but he never got the chance to complete his contract with the club as it was terminated on a mutual agreement.
In 2022, he moved to his current club, Istanbul Basaksehir, signing a one-year contract with the club but with an option for an additional year.
International Career
Before making his international debut he was eligible to play for Germany or Turkey. After long consideration, Mesut Ozil opted to play for his native country over his ancestral country. In 2006, was called up for the youth team before making his senior debut in February 2009.
In 2010, he was selected for the German squad that represented the country in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. His World Cup debut was a success helping his country get to the semi-finals and was also among the nominees for the 2010 World Cup Golden Boot.
In 2014, he was also included in the squad that represented Germany in the tournaments in Brazil. He ended his qualification campaign as German’s top scorer before helping the country win the 2014 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first country in South America to win the Trophy.
He also played in the UEFA Euro 2016 and was also selected for the 2018, FIFA World Cup but was only featured in two of the three games as the team was eliminated from the tournaments. However, his fallout with the national team began after the 2018 World Cup where he alleged the German Football Association and the German Media discriminated against and disrespected him.
How Much Does Mesut Ozil Earn?
When he signed with Fenerbahce Mesut Ozil was set to earn €3 million a year and currently, he earns 1.76 million EUR a year.
Net Worth
In 2020 he was among the highest-paid footballers in the world and he managed to accumulate a wealth exceeding $300 million.