Okan Deniz

Okan Deniz — Biography

Okan Deniz is a winger who came up through the Bursaspor academy. He is best known for reaching the European stage very young: he holds the title of the youngest player in Bursaspor's history to play in European competition. He later played for a number of different clubs. Born in Korkut, in the province of Muş, he is one of ten children, and his footballing idol is Didier Drogba.

He took up football at Bursaspor in 2007 and signed his first professional contract in 2010, joining the A2 side. Before the 2011-12 season manager Ertuğrul Sağlam called him up to the pre-season camp, and his first official match came on July 28, 2011, in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round against FK Gomel. In December 2012 he signed a new five-year deal with the club and drew attention as one of the youngest goalscorers of his time. He mostly played for the A2 side, though he was added to the first-team squad for some matches.

He also had a notable youth international career: 18 appearances in Turkey's U-16 and U-17 shirts brought four goals, he played at U-18 level, and he represented his country at the 2013 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. After Bursaspor his career took in clubs such as Osmanlıspor and İnegölspor; in 2023 he left Amedspor and moved to İnegölspor.