Oxford United are delighted to announce the signing of Turkish midfielder Yunus Emre Konak on loan from Premier League side Brentford until the end of the season.
The 20-year-old arrives having made 14 senior appearances for Brentford since joining the club in January 2024, including 10 outings in the Premier League. Konak signed for the Bees from Turkish Super League side Sivasspor, where he was recognised by The Guardian as one of the best young players in the world for his age.
A Türkiye Under-21 international, Konak goes straight into the squad for Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship fixture against Bristol City.
Speaking after completing the move, Konak said: “I’m very excited for this opportunity at Oxford United and I can’t wait to show the supporters what I can do.
“I’m a player who likes to fight and give everything on the pitch, and I want to help the Club achieve as much as possible during this loan spell.
“This is a big chance for me to play regular football and prove myself in English football. The supporters will see a player full of energy, determination and ready to compete.”
Oxford United Head Coach Matt Bloomfield added: “I’m really pleased to welcome Yunus into the group. He’s a wonderful young player with huge potential and I’m excited to start working with him.
“I’ve known about Yunus and his ability for some time, and Ed Waldron and the recruitment team have done a lot of hard work tracking him closely. When the opportunity was presented, I was delighted to bring him into the squad.
“He’s an aggressive midfielder with an excellent work rate, strong technical quality and a real personality. We believe those traits will add another dimension to our midfield, and I’m looking forward to seeing him make an impact between now and the end of the season.”
Head of Football Operations Ed Waldron said: “Yunus is a player we have monitored for a long period of time and one we tried to bring to the Club during the summer, so it’s very pleasing to complete the deal now.
“He was signed by Brentford as a teenager after establishing himself as one of the most exciting young players in Europe, and in Türkiye he is viewed as someone who could be central to the future of the national team’s midfield.
“Since Matt’s arrival, we have worked extremely closely together to align our recruitment strategy and map out the remainder of the transfer window. This move reflects that collaboration, and we look forward to continuing to strengthen the group with players who are ready to compete, contribute and help drive the Club forward.”