Barcelona's Arda Turan joins Istanbul Başakşehir on loan

Barcelona have loaned former Turkey international Arda Turan to Istanbul Başakşehir for the rest of this season and two more, the Liga leaders said in a statement on Saturday.

Turan joined the club from Atletico Madrid for 34 million euros ($41.46 million) plus add ons in July 2015, winning six trophies but only making 55 appearances and scoring 15 goals.

Spanish newspaper Sport last week estimated it cost Barca one million euros for each appearance made by Turan, taking into account an annual salary reported to be 8 million euros a year.

* Turkish National footballer Arda Turan posed with Başakşehir shirt after his transfer announced. (AA Photo)

"During this period Barca reserve the right to transfer the player to a club belonging to UEFA, and will receive a variable fee according to his performances," said the Barca statement.

"Meanwhile, Istanbul Başakşehir will reserve the right to buy the player from Barcelona."
"Arda Turan is returning to his country wearing the orange kit (of Başakşehir). This is not just a transfer for Başakşehir, but a transfer for all of Turkey," club president Göksel Gümüşdağ said in a statement.

In a tweet, the club shared a video of a crossword being filled in with the key answers being "Arda Turan."

Başakşehir have risen rapidly over the last two seasons to rival the established Istanbul triumvirate of Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray.

He quit international football last June after former coach Fatih Terim threw him out of a training camp following a fracas with a reporter on a plane.

Turan then declared two months later he was ready for a recall.