Former Celtic forward Hyeon-gyu Oh has made a sensational impact in Turkey, continuing his impressive form since joining Besiktas and quickly becoming a fan favourite in Istanbul…
The South Korean attacker’s move has also proved beneficial for Celtic financially, with the club banking a significant fee after Genk agreed a €15 million deal for the striker just 18 months after signing him from Suwon Bluewings for around £4.5 million.
Oh was brought to the Scottish champions by Ange Postecoglou in January 2023 as a replacement for Giorgos Giakoumakis. While he contributed regularly from the bench, he struggled to nail down a consistent starting role.
His chances became even more limited when Brendan Rodgers secured the arrival of Adam Idah, prompting his switch to Belgium.
Since departing Scotland, the 23-year-old has continued to develop, and his early performances for Besiktas suggest he has taken another major step forward. He announced himself in spectacular fashion by scoring with an acrobatic overhead kick on his debut, rescuing a 2-2 draw against Alanyaspor.
With Besiktas sitting outside the top four and chasing European qualification, the pressure has been on to deliver results. In a crucial clash against city rivals Basaksehir, Oh again stepped up.
After the hosts opened the scoring, the former Celt levelled with a calm one-on-one finish before later setting up Orkun Kokcu with a clever backheel to help secure a derby day victory.
Reflecting on the performance afterwards, Oh expressed his delight at settling quickly into his new surroundings and contributing to Besiktas’ momentum.
He said via The National: “My first win at Besiktas is a very special joy. It was a tough match, but winning made me happy. We knew the importance of winning, so I’m very happy. I touched the ball on Orkun’s goal. Sometimes you don’t need to talk, you understand each other with your eyes.”
“We understood each other very well. We showed that on the field. Orkun is a fantastic player. It’s great to play with him. The World Cup is approaching. I want to score many goals and be successful until then. Besiktas is my destiny. I really wanted to come here. It happened. I am very happy with every day I spend here.”
Looking back, there may be questions over whether Oh could have been given more opportunities during his time at Celtic. However, circumstances and competition for places played a major role. Idah’s goals during his loan spell were instrumental in Rodgers’ men securing a domestic double and automatic Champions League football, making the decision understandable at the time.
Ange remained an admirer of Oh’s qualities, handing him a start in the Glasgow Derby at Ibrox in May 2023. Oh hit the post and missed another big opportunity and those were moments that could be viewed as the final straw for him at Celtic.
Having attracted interest from English Premier League sides before his move to Turkey, the striker’s rapid rise means he could soon be on the radar of clubs across Europe once again.
Conor Spence
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