Kerim Frei

Kerim Frei — Biography

Kerim Frei is a Turkish international winger who was born in Austria and raised in Switzerland. He reached the Premier League with Fulham, won the 2015-16 Süper Lig title with Beşiktaş, and after spells at Birmingham City, İstanbul Başakşehir and Emmen signed for Sakaryaspor in August 2026.

After coming through the youth systems of FC Au-Heerbrugg, St. Gallen and Grasshopper in Switzerland, he moved to Fulham in 2010. At 17 he made his first-team debut in the Europa League, made his Premier League debut at Swansea City on December 10, 2011, and scored his first Europa League goal against Odense. In 2013 he joined Beşiktaş on a five-year contract, finished 2014-15 with 4 goals and earned the nickname "Kupa Beyi" (Cup Lord) for his Turkish Cup goals. He moved to Birmingham City in January 2017 and to Başakşehir in July 2017; his free kick at Rotherham won Birmingham's Goal of the Season award. He was loaned to Maccabi Haifa and Emmen, joined Emmen permanently in January 2021, and later played for Fatih Karagümrük, Manisa, Elazığspor and Erzincanspor. Batman Petrolspor, which he joined in January 2026, was promoted to the First League that April.

He played for Switzerland's youth teams from 2010 to 2012 and captained the under-19s. In 2012 he chose Turkey at the strong urging of Abdullah Avcı, and on November 14, 2012, he made his senior debut in a friendly against Denmark, replacing Caner Erkin. He was also in Turkey's squad for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup.