Former Blackpool winger Bright Osayi-Samuel agrees deal to join Turkish side Fenerbahce after contracts ends with QPR

The winger has been watched by the likes of Celtic and Rangers in recent months, while Burnley, Crystal Palace and Belgian outfit Club Brugge were also linked with the 23-year-old’s signature.

But Fenerbahce have agreed to snap up Osayi-Samuel at the end of the season when his current deal at Loftus Road expires.

Osayi-Samuel has penned a four-year deal with the Turkish giants, who currently sit second in the top flight behind Besiktas.

“Our club has reached an agreement with Bright Osayi-Samuel, a 23-year-old winger from Queens Park Rangers, for four seasons, starting from the 2021-2022 season,” Fenerbahce said in a statement.

“Details about the transfer will be announced in the coming days.”

QPR manager Mark Warburton had wanted the player to sign a new deal at Loftus Road to remain in the Championship beyond this season, but contract talks with Osayi-Samuel stalled - making his eventual departure inevitable.

During the summer, when Club Brugge had a £4.75m bid accepted for the winger, it was mooted the Seasiders could potentially benefit financially from the deal due to a sell-on fee.

However, that move broke down, with reports suggesting QPR and Osayi-Samuel were hoping Club Brugge’s interest would lead to Premier League sides coming in for him.

While the exact details remain unclear, The Gazette understands Blackpool did negotiate a sell-on fee as part of the deal that took Osayi-Samuel to Loftus Road in 2017.

However, with Osayi-Samuel now leaving on a free transfer at the end of the season, that leaves Blackpool empty-handed.

The Nigerian left Bloomfield Road on deadline day in September 2017 for a fee believed to be well over £1m.

The previous month Brad Potts also left the Fylde coast to join Barnsley in a similar deal which would have also involved a sell-on as part of the finer details.

Osayi-Samuel was brought to Blackpool in 2014 by the club’s former coach Richie Kyle, who now works for the FA.

He made his debut in March 2015 in a 1-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday and went on to make 99 appearances for the Seasiders.

The playmaker has since made 115 appearances for QPR in the last four seasons, scoring 13 times.

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