Başar Önal

Başar Önal — Biography

Başar Önal is a left winger who was born and trained in the Netherlands and has played for Turkey's youth national teams. He made his name at De Graafschap and NEC, moved to French Ligue 1 side Lille in the summer of 2026 and is currently a Lille player.

He began playing at the age of five in the DZC '68 youth sides and was scouted by De Graafschap at eight. Working up through the age groups, he was promoted straight to the senior team in 2022; he made his professional debut as a late substitute in a 3-1 Eerste Divisie defeat to MVV on March 18, 2022, and signed his first professional contract, for three seasons, in April. On July 5, 2024, he signed a four-year deal with Eredivisie club NEC. He has played for Turkey's youth sides up to under-19 level, and was described as a Turkey under-21 player when his Lille move was reported.

On July 8, 2026, Lille signed him on a four-season contract, with Turkish media reporting a fee between 12.5 and 14.5 million euros. In August 2026 he also started a match for Lille. Önal began as a left-back before being moved to left wing at under-17 level; he is a quick attacker who is comfortable on the ball and good at getting past opponents, and he likes to attack from the flank or as a false striker.