Efe Sarıkaya

Efe Sarıkaya — Biography

Centre-back Efe Sarıkaya was born in İzmir on 30 November 2005 and began playing in Altay's youth system, apart from a brief spell with Çamdibi Yeşilova Esnafspor in the 2017-18 season. A left-footed player, he has featured mainly at centre-back and occasionally at left-back.

He signed a professional contract with Altay in February 2022 and made his league debut on 15 May 2022 as a late substitute away to Trabzonspor, then played a full 90 minutes against Kasımpaşa that same month. His form in the 2022-23 Turkish second tier drew interest from Beşiktaş, Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe and Spanish giants Atlético Madrid; the club turned down offers from Atlético, Sevilla and Manchester City in 2023. During this period he was also capped for Turkey's under-18 and under-19 sides.

On 1 February 2024 he signed a five-year contract with French Ligue 2 club Grenoble, and at the start of 2026 he moved to TFF 1. Lig side Çorum FK on loan. After a spell out of the squad, he returned to action in April 2026 and continues playing for the club.