Utku Yuvakuran

Utku Yuvakuran — Biography

Utku Yuvakuran is a goalkeeper who spent years at Beşiktaş as second and third choice and was part of the squads that won two Süper Lig titles and two Turkish Cups. He is the son of Semih Yuvakuran, a former international left back. He is best remembered for the Kadıköy derby of November 29, 2020: with Ersin Destanoğlu absent he took over in goal, and Beşiktaş beat Fenerbahçe 4-3, their first away win there in 15 years.

He began at Beylerbeyi; in 2015-16, aged only 18, he became the third-tier side's goalkeeper, played 35 league matches and kept 11 clean sheets. He joined Beşiktaş on loan in 2016 and signed permanently on a free transfer in the summer of 2017. His first professional match came in the Turkish Cup in January 2017. On August 26, 2018, he made his Süper Lig debut against Antalyaspor when Tolga Zengin was injured, and four days later he played in the Europa League against Partizan, a 3-0 win. After Loris Karius arrived he became the second-choice keeper. In 2020-21 he was again behind Destanoğlu, and he kept goal for Beşiktaş in the Europa League qualifying tie against Rio Ave. On August 31, 2021, he was loaned to Fatih Karagümrük, where he played two cup matches and none in the league. In the summer of 2025 he transferred to Pendikspor.

At youth level he played for Turkey's U-19 and U-20 teams, and was called up to the U-21s without getting playing time.