En-Nesyri's Fenerbahçe Nightmare! Lasted Only 1.5 Years?! Shocking Stats!

Fenerbahçe fans are waking up to some surprising news: Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri is heading to Al-Ittihad after just a year and a half with the club. The move, confirmed earlier today, sees En-Nesyri's contract mutually terminated and registered with the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), paving the way for his transfer to the Saudi Arabian Pro League.

En-Nesyri's Fenerbahçe Nightmare! Lasted Only 1.5 ...

It's a bit of a whirlwind considering Fenerbahçe splashed out a reported €19.5 million to bring En-Nesyri in from Sevilla back on July 25, 2024. He signed a five-year deal at the time, and the excitement was palpable. His debut came quickly, stepping onto the pitch in the 79th minute of a Champions League qualifier against Lille on August 6th. I remember thinking then that he'd be a force to be reckoned with in the Süper Lig.

Initially, under Jose Mourinho's management, En-Nesyri found himself playing second fiddle to Edin Dzeko, a tough spot to be in. The goals weren't flowing right away; just one in his first eight matches. But things definitely picked up. From October onwards, he really found his footing, becoming a regular starter in both the league and in Europe. He hit a purple patch, banging in 12 goals in eight Süper Lig games between weeks 16 and 24. You could see his confidence growing with each match.

His form wasn't limited to the league either. En-Nesyri also bagged four goals in just three Turkish Cup group stage matches during that same period. In the Europa League, where Fenerbahçe made it to the round of 16, he scored six goals in 12 appearances, starting in the vast majority of those games. All told, his first season saw him score 20 goals in 34 Süper Lig matches, making him the team's top scorer with a total of 30 goals across all competitions. Not a bad return, right?

However, his second season was a bit more of a mixed bag. He started strong, scoring four goals in the first five Süper Lig matches, but his form dipped afterwards, managing only three goals in the subsequent 11 games. He got one goal and one assist in a 5-2 Champions League qualifier win against Feyenoord, but blanked in two games against Benfica. Seven Europa League matches also passed without a goal, despite him starting every one of them. He did manage seven goals in 16 Süper Lig appearances (11 as a starter) but that early season spark seemed to fade.

One thing that's sure to sting Fenerbahçe fans is his inability to find the net in any of the derby matches against Galatasaray and Beşiktaş. He played in four games against Galatasaray and three against Beşiktaş without contributing a single goal. Those are the games where players become legends, and unfortunately, En-Nesyri couldn't quite deliver.

Ultimately, Youssef En-Nesyri played 79 matches for Fenerbahçe, racking up 38 goals across all competitions. While his initial impact was undeniable, the inconsistency in his second season likely played a role in this unexpected departure. His 20 goals in his first Süper Lig season put him in a special club of Fenerbahçe players who've hit that mark in a single season. Whether he will be remembered fondly, despite leaving earlier than anticipated, remains to be seen.