Okan Derici

Okan Derici — Biography

Okan Derici is a German-Turkish midfielder who began in German youth football, rose through Turkey's junior national teams and has since built a career at Galatasaray, Konyaspor and a string of clubs in the Turkish lower leagues. In July 2026 he left Adana 01 FK for Aliağa FK, where he now plays.

He took up the game at four with the encouragement of his father, a former footballer, playing first for his village side Eintracht Lollar and then in the youth ranks of TSG Wieseck Giessen. Eintracht Frankfurt faced him in a state final and took him into its academy, where he won a title with the under-17 side and finished the 2009-10 season with 14 goals and 20 assists in 25 games. He turned down an offer from Borussia Dortmund as well. In 2011 he passed over several suitors, Fenerbahçe among them, and chose Galatasaray, playing for the A2 side and drawing notice for his free-kick goals. A short spell at Rot-Weiß Erfurt followed, and in February 2014 he signed for Konyaspor, making his first league appearance against his former club Galatasaray. Later he played for Kırklarelispor, Altınordu, Adana Demirspor and Adana 01 FK, captaining the last of these.

For Turkey he appeared at under-15, under-17, under-18 and under-19 level and represented the country at the 2010 UEFA European Under-17 Championship; he also played for Germany's youth team. While at Altınordu he stressed that the club was not merely a football team but an educational institution.