Ernest Poku has left Bayer Leverkusen to join Beşiktaş on loan for the 2026/27 season, with the deal also carrying the possibility of a permanent transfer if certain conditions are met. The move is a straightforward summer departure on the surface, but Leverkusen have clearly kept some faith in a player who finished with five goals and five assists in 29 Bundesliga appearances.
Poku's Leverkusen return before the loan
His numbers at Leverkusen were not those of a fringe player dropped in for a handful of minutes. Poku played 29 Bundesliga matches and delivered end product in both directions, scoring five and setting up five more. That is a decent return for a winger leaving a club that has now sent him out as the 12th departure from the BayArena this summer.
Simon Rolfes, Leverkusen's managing director for sport, was positive about what Poku has shown. Speaking to bundesliga.com, he said: "Ernest Poku has made a name for himself in Germany and across Europe as a fast attacker. His performances in the Bundesliga and the UEFA Champions League have made an impression. With his footballing profile, Ernest has everything it takes to establish himself in Besiktas's high-quality squad."
What the permanent option says about the move
The permanent clause is the part that gives the loan some weight. It does not mean Beşiktaş are guaranteed to sign him permanently, and it does not turn the deal into a disguised sale. It does show Leverkusen are open to the idea that Poku can stay if the conditions are met.
That view fits the rest of his season. He did not start any of Leverkusen's final eight league games, so the loan also arrives at a point where he was no longer an automatic name in the starting side. Beşiktaş get a winger with Bundesliga experience, while Leverkusen have protected the chance that the move could become more than a one-season loan.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
