Mert Hakan Yandaş

Mert Hakan Yandaş
Yandaş with Fenerbahçe in 2022
Personal information
Full name Mert Hakan Yandaş
Date of birth (1994-08-19) 19 August 1994
Place of birth Osmangazi, Turkey
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Positions
Team information
Current team
 Fenerbahçe
Number 8
Youth career
2006–2011 Bursa Güven
2011–2012 Yeşil Bursa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 Yeşil Bursa 17 (1)
2013–2015 Altınordu 4 (0)
2014–2015 → Tirespor 1922 (loan) 25 (13)
2015–2016 Tirespor 1922 34 (21)
2016–2017 Menemen Belediyespor 35 (12)
2017–2020 Sivasspor 63 (7)
2020– Fenerbahçe 102 (6)
International career‡
2020 Turkey 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 28 March 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of 3 September 2020

Mert Hakan Yandaş (born 19 August 1994) is a Turkish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Süper Lig club Fenerbahçe.

Professional career

Early career

Born in Bursa, he lost his father when he was only 9 years old. His father was also an amateur football player and in an interview, he said that he grew up in a family that loved football and that he promised his father to be a football player when he was little.[2]

He spent part of his youth in Bursa Güven and Yeşil Bursa and his first season as a senior in amateur football.[3] Mert Hakan made his first professional contract with Altınordu.

In the 2014–15 season, he loaned to Tire 1922. He made a very strong start with new coach Taha Evke in there and became one of the key players who took more responsibility on the field,[3] scored 13 goals in 25 TFF Third League matches. He signed with them a permanent contract for the 2015–16 season, where has been top goalscorer with 21 goals (in 34 matches) in 2015–16 TFF Third League season.[2]

In the 2016–17 season, he transferred to TFF Second League side Menemen Belediyespor where he played with Serkan Çalık, Erman Kılıç, Gökhan Ünal and İbrahim Dağaşan.[3]

Sivasspor

Mert Hakan Yandaş joined Süper Lig side Sivasspor on 14 July 2017, after a couple successful seasons[3] in the lower Turkish leagues with Tirespor 1922 and Menemen Belediyespor.[4]

He made his professional debut for Sivasspor in a 2–0 Süper Lig win over Yeni Malatyaspor on 19 August 2017.[5] On 21 September 2017, he scored his first goal with the team against Bugsaşspor in a 3–0 win Turkish Cup match.

Fenerbahçe

On 11 August 2020, Yandaş transferred to Süper Lig powerhouse Fenerbahçe on a free transfer, signed four years deal.[6] On 21 September 2020, he made his debut in a 0–0 tie against Hatayspor in 2020–21 Süper Lig season. On 21 November 2020, he scored his first goal against Gençlerbirliği in Süper Lig match, netting the first goal in a 5–1 away game victory.

In the 2021–22 season, Yandaş was made vice-captain after Altay Bayındır and Mesut Özil.[7] On 16 September 2021, he made his continental debut in his career against Eintracht Frankfurt in UEFA Europa League away game which finished 1–1.[8] On 4 November 2021, he captained Fenerbahçe for the first time in a 3–0 UEFA Europa League win over Royal Antwerp, where he also scored a goal from outside the box.[7]

On 23 August 2023, Yandaş made his 100th appearances in all competitions for Fenerbahçe against Twente in 5–1 UEFA Europa Conference League play-off round victory.[9] On 21 June 2024, Fenerbahçe extended his contract for two years.[10] On 16 February 2025, he made his 100th Süper Lig appearances for Fenerbahçe against Kasımpaşa in a 3–1 home win.[11][12]

On 5 August 2025, Yandaş became captain of Fenerbahçe, but lost his role to Milan Škriniar due to his betting allegations.[13]

Betting investigation

As part of an investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and known to the public as the “Football Betting Investigations”, he was detained on 5 December 2025, after it was determined that he had placed bets on legal betting sites through another person.[14][15] On 27 February, an indictment has been prepared against him, seeking a prison sentence ranging from 4 to 13 years.[16] On 3 April, the court issued a release order for him.[17]

International career

Yandaş (left) in the international match against Hungary (3 September 2020)

Without any youth international experience, Yandaş made his debut with the Turkey national football team in a 1-0 UEFA Nations League loss to Hungary on 3 September 2020.[18]

Playing style

Yandaş is a modern midfielder known for his strong passing and shots from outside the box. He is known for his good technique. He plays mainly as an attacking or a central midfielder but can also operate in several other positions and has been used as a deeper creative midfield position and on occasion, a box-to-box role, winger or second striker.[3] He is often described by pundits as modern day advanced playmakers due to his technique, skill, athleticism, work-rate off the ball, vision, crossing accuracy, wide range of passing, and powerful long-range shooting ability with either foot.[19]

His nickname is Commandante to his combative nature and dominance on the field.[20]

Career statistics

Club

As of 28 March 2025.
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Turkish Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Yeşil Bursa 2012–13 TFF Third League 17100——171
Altınordu 2013–14 TFF Second League 4000——40
Tire 1922 (loan) 2014–15 TFF Third League 251311——2614
Tire 1922 2015–16 TFF Third League 34[a]2120——3621
Total 59343100006235
Menemen Belediyespor 2016–17 TFF Second League 35[b]1274——4216
Sivasspor 2017–18 Süper Lig 22142——263
2018–19 Süper Lig 9000—1[c]1101
2019–20 Süper Lig 32654——3710
Total 6379600117314
Fenerbahçe 2020–21 Süper Lig 34440——384
2021–22 Süper Lig 240207[d]2—332
2022–23 Süper Lig 150504[e]0—240
2023–24 Süper Lig 162318[f]000273
2024–25 Süper Lig 1303111[g]0—271
2025–26 Süper Lig 000000—00
Total 10261723020014910
Career total 2806036133021134776
  1. ↑ Two appearances in TFF 3. Lig Play-offs
  2. ↑ Two appearances and two goals in TFF 2. Lig Play-offs
  3. ↑ Appearance in U21 Ligi
  4. ↑ Five appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League, two appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa Conference League
  5. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  6. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Conference League
  7. ↑ Three appearances in UEFA Champions League, eight appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

As of match played 3 September 2020.[21]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Turkey
202010
Total10

Honours

Altınordu

Fenerbahçe

References

  1. ↑ "Mert Hakan Yandaş". fenerbahce.org. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Mert Hakan Yandaş ilk kez Skorer'e açıkladı! Transfer itirafı: Teklif aldım". milliyet.com.tr (in Turkish). 1 January 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Mert Hakan Yandaş: "Sivasspor serüvenimin bittiğini sanmıştım!"". TFF.org (in Turkish). 1 May 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2025.
  4. ↑ "Mert Hakan Yandaş Sivasspor´umuzda". sivasspor.org.tr (in Turkish).
  5. ↑ "Demir Grup Sivasspor - Evkur Yeni Malatyaspor (Maç Detayları)". www.tff.org (in Turkish).
  6. ↑ "Mert Hakan Yandaş Fenerbahcemiz'de". fenerbahce.org (in Turkish). 11 August 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  7. 1 2 "Fenerbahçe'de Mert Hakan Yandaş kaptanlık bandını taktı, golünü attı". ajansspor.com (in Turkish). 4 November 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  8. ↑ "Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Fenerbahçe". fenerbahce.org (in Turkish). 16 September 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  9. ↑ "Mert Hakan Yandaş, Fenerbahçe formasıyla 100. maçına çıktı". fenerbahce.org (in Turkish). 23 August 2025. Retrieved 17 February 2025.
  10. ↑ "Bilgilendirme". fenerbahce.org (in Turkish). 21 June 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  11. ↑ "Fenerbahçe 3-1 Kasımpaşa". fenerbahce.org (in Turkish). 16 February 2025. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  12. ↑ "Mert Hakan Yandaş 'dalya' dedi!". haberturk.com (in Turkish). 16 February 2025. Retrieved 17 February 2025.
  13. ↑ "Fenerbahçe'de kaptan belli oldu". trtspor.com (in Turkish). 5 August 2025. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  14. ↑ "Bahis soruşturmasında yeni dalga: Ahmet Çakar, Mert Hakan Yandaş ve Metehan Baltacı gözaltına alındı". Medyascope (in Turkish). 5 December 2025. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  15. ↑ "Turkish football betting scandal: Galatasaray and Fenerbahce players arrested". BBC Sport. 5 December 2025. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  16. ↑ "'Futbolda bahis' soruşturması..." www.hurriyet.com.tr. 1 March 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  17. ↑ "Kaptanımız Mert Hakan Yandaş tahliye oldu". Fenerbahce.org. 4 March 2026. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  18. ↑ "Turkey vs. Hungary - 3 September 2020 - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com.
  19. ↑ "Mert Hakan Yandaş kendini buluyor". BursadaBugun.com (in Turkish). 26 November 2024.
  20. ↑ "Jose Mourinho'dan Mert Hakan Yandaş'a: "Komutan"". Goal.com (in Turkish). 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  21. ↑ "Mert Yandaş". European Football. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  22. ↑ "Altınordu şampiyonluk kupasını aldı". TFF.org (in Turkish). 4 May 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2025.
  23. ↑ "Cumhuriyetimizin 100. Yılında Türkiye Kupası Fenerbahçemiz'in". fenerbahce.org. 11 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  24. ↑ "Turkcell Süper Kupa 2025, Fenerbahçe'nin" (in Turkish). Turkish Football Federation. 10 January 2026. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
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