Sinan signs for Besiktas

Turkish champions Besiktas JK have signed Altay GK's Under-21 international striker Sinan Kaloglu.

Sinan overjoyed
Coach Mircea Lucescu has given the striker, who turned 21 this month, a three-year contract, and Sinan was overjoyed to accept the challenge of playing for Turkey's strongest side in Europe.

'My family will be proud of me'
"I'm here to be useful for Besiktas and Turkish football," he said. "All of my struggle here will be for this purpose. My family will be proud of me. Besiktas will be in three different competitions next season; the [UEFA] Champions League, Turkish Super League and Turkish Cup. If I make even the smallest contribution to that it will be a pleasure for me."

Altay relegation
Sinan took time to thank his former coaches Mehmet Durmus, Reha Kapsal and Rasit Çetiner for their contribution to his career as he looked forward to his new role. The striker scored eleven top-flight goals last season, but could not prevent Altay from being relegated in their first season back in the Turkish Super League.

Goalscoring gift
Sinan started his career at Boluspor in 1999 and moved on to Altay in 2000. He did not play for them that season and spent the year on loan to Marmarisspor. After a successful loan period he found the opportunity to show his talents at Altay, scoring 17 goals in 36 matches in the 2001/02 season as Altay won a place in the top flight.

U21 career
He has scored three goals in nine matches for the Turkish U21 team, but an injury he picked up in the spring has prevented him from making any further appearances for Turkey.