Eslem Öztürk

Eslem Öztürk — Biography

Eslem Öztürk (born 1 December 1997 in Gölcük, Kocaeli) is a Turkish footballer who plays as a central midfielder. He began playing football with Gölcükspor and moved into Beşiktaş's youth system midway through the 2012–13 season; in 2014–15 he was part of the under-19 squad that won its group and reached the Turkish final, and that same season he drew notice for declining a penalty he felt was unjust against Kayseri Erciyesspor, passing the ball to the goalkeeper instead. He was promoted to the Beşiktaş under-21 squad in 2015–16.

Öztürk made his official Beşiktaş debut on 5 February 2015, playing in a Turkish Cup match against Çaykur Rizespor, but before the 2015–16 season he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in an under-21 match, ending that season early. Loaned to BB Erzurumspor in January 2017, he made ten appearances, scoring his first senior goal on 8 May 2017 in a play-off quarter-final against Kocaeli Birlik as his team went on to win promotion to the 1. Lig. He played one match for Turkey's under-18 national team in 2015.

He transferred to İstanbulspor in September 2017, rejoined the club in 2020, and was sent out on loan again by Beşiktaş in September 2021. In a 2019 interview he said he wanted to improve his performance and return to Beşiktaş. He signed with 1461 Trabzon in 2024 and subsequently played for TFF 2. Lig club Kırklarelispor.