Centre-ForwardNigeria30 years oldPlays for Bursaspor
Photo: Антон Зайцев, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; resized and cropped.
Kelechi Promise Iheanacho, born on 3 October 1996, is a left-footed centre-forward currently playing for Bursaspor. He joined the Turkish club on a free transfer in July 2026, signing a contract that runs until 30 June 2029. The move followed a loan spell at Celtic, where he scored nine goals despite injury interruptions and helped the club secure a domestic double. Since arriving in Turkey, he has made an immediate impact, scoring and assisting on his debut in a 2-0 win over Bodrum, followed by another goal in his second league appearance.
Iheanacho operates as a physical centre-forward, standing at 185 cm, with a natural preference for his left foot. He is known for his ability to hold up play, drop deep to link midfield and attack, and finish from close range. His debut performance demonstrated both goal-scoring instinct and willingness to create for others, indicating solid spatial awareness and timing of runs. The sources note his resilience through injury setbacks, though these periods have occasionally disrupted his continuity and match sharpness.
A €28m transfer took him to Leicester City in March 2017, where he spent several seasons. After leaving Leicester, he joined Sevilla in July 2024, followed by a loan to Celtic in February 2025, a brief stint at Middlesbrough in March 2025, and a return to Sevilla in June 2025. He then moved to Celtic in July 2026, helping them win a domestic double before joining Bursaspor later that month. His early performances in the 2026/27 Turkish 1. Lig have placed Bursaspor second in the early standings.
Celtic offered a contract extension after the double-winning season, but Iheanacho chose to join Bursaspor, citing the club’s ambition to return to the Turkish Super Lig and its passionate fan base. He arrived on a free transfer and committed to a three-year deal, aligning with the club’s promotion project. No other concrete interest has been reported; the focus now rests on maintaining his early scoring form and helping Bursaspor achieve back-to-back promotions.
Fenerbahçe are weighing a January move for Bursaspor striker Kelechi Iheanacho, with Afrik‑Foot (30 Oct), Daily Post and Glasgow Times (31 Oct) all reporting concrete interest. His listed contract runs to June 2029.