De Boer agrees Galatasaray deal
Thursday, July 10, 2003
Article summary
Galatasaray SK have signed Frank de Boer on a free transfer from FC Barcelona.
Article body
Successful seasons
The 33-year-old has agreed a two-year contract with the Istanbul club after talks with Galatasaray president Özhan Canaydin in Amsterdam. De Boer began his career with AFC Ajax in 1988/89. After eleven successful seasons - 289 league appearances and 28 goals - with Ajax he was transferred to Barcelona midway through the 1998/99 campaign.
Major tournaments
The brother of fellow Dutch international Ronald and now captain of his country, De Boer has been capped 103 times. He has played in several major tournaments, including the UEFA European Championships of 1992 and 2000 and the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups.
European hopes
A member of Ajax's squad which won the UEFA Champions League in 1994/95, De Boer will hope to bring more European success to 2000 UEFA Cup winners Galatasaray. The club will start next season's Champions League in the third qualifying round. As well as De Boer, striker Hakan Sükür and Abdullah Ercan also moved to Galatasaray this week.
