İzzet Erdal İstanbulspor Scout Report
İzzet Erdal
Quick Answer
İzzet Ali Erdal is a centre-back who began his football career in Bayer Leverkusen’s academy and played in the youth ranks of German clubs including Duisburg, Mainz and Hoffenheim. He transferred to Gaziantep FK, a Turkish Süper Lig club, in January 2025, before signing a 5-year contract with İstanbulspor in July 2025. He featured in a February 2026 Turkish Cup match against Galatasaray.
Player Info Card
| Full name | İzzet Ali Erdal |
| Date of birth | Not confirmed (around 2004) |
| Age | 21 |
| Place of birth | Germany |
| Nationality | Turkey |
| Primary position | Centre-Back |
| Shirt number | — |
| Current club | İstanbulspor (July 2025) |
| Contract status | Until 30.06.2030 (5-year contract) |
Career History
| Period | Club | Note |
|---|---|---|
| -2024 | Bayer Leverkusen / Homberg / Duisburg / Mainz / Hoffenheim (youth academies) | Played in the youth ranks of several German clubs |
| January 2025 | Gaziantep FK | Signed a 2.5-year professional contract |
| July 2025- | İstanbulspor | Transferred on a 5-year contract, running until 2030 |
| February 2026 | İstanbulspor | Appeared in a Turkish Cup match against Galatasaray |
Raised in Germany, İzzet Ali Erdal began his football career in Bayer Leverkusen’s youth academy before moving through the ranks at Homberg, Duisburg, Mainz and Hoffenheim. After leaving Hoffenheim in January 2025, the young centre-back signed a 2.5-year professional contract with Gaziantep FK in the Turkish Süper Lig, before transferring to İstanbulspor in July 2025 on a 5-year deal running until 2030. In February 2026 he featured in a Turkish Cup match against Galatasaray, one of his higher-profile appearances since joining the club.
Playing Style & Assessment
Years spent within Germany’s youth development system point to a solid grounding in disciplined positioning and organized defending. Coming through Bundesliga-affiliated youth teams may have given him experience competing against physically strong opponents, though statistical data on his performance in Turkish football remains limited.
Strengths
- German academy background — Having developed at multiple Bundesliga clubs’ academies, including Bayer Leverkusen, points to a solid technical and tactical foundation.
- Big-match experience — Featuring against a club like Galatasaray at a young age shows he can handle high-pressure fixtures.
Development Areas
- Short track record in Turkish football — His professional career in Turkey only began in January 2025, so adaptation to TFF 1.Lig’s tempo is still being assessed.
- Limited statistical data — Detailed match-by-match performance data from his time at Gaziantep FK and İstanbulspor could not be found.
Level Projection
Verdict: Given the technical grounding from his time in Germany and the club’s 5-year commitment to him, he is expected to become a central figure in İstanbulspor’s medium-to-long-term defensive plans.
Sporting Director’s Note
| Current level | TFF 1.Lig starting XI candidate |
| Primary role | Centre-Back |
| Transfer cost | Data insufficient |
| Key strength | German academy background |
| Key risk | Short track record in Turkish football |
| Scout verdict | High-priority watch |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which clubs did İzzet Erdal previously play for? He played in the youth ranks of Bayer Leverkusen, Homberg, Duisburg, Mainz and Hoffenheim in Germany, before transferring to Gaziantep FK.
When did he join İstanbulspor? He transferred from Gaziantep FK to İstanbulspor in July 2025 on a 5-year contract.
Sources & Methodology
This profile was compiled by cross-referencing Transfermarkt, the club’s official profile page, Wikipedia and accessible football data platforms. Tactical commentary and the level projection are GegenSports editorial assessments.
- Telgraf Gazetesi (Turkish outlet) — transferred from Gaziantep FK to İstanbulspor
- Habertürk (Turkish outlet) — Gaziantep FK announced the young centre-back
- Spor Arena (Turkish outlet) — Gaziantep FK’s 2.5-year deal with İzzet Ali Erdal
