Fenerbahçe have pulled off one of the most eye-catching deals of the late transfer window by landing Romelu Lukaku from Napoli for just €6m, a bargain fee for a striker of his pedigree. The Belgian forward, who has plied his trade across Europe's top leagues, arrives on a deal running until 2026 and immediately becomes the focal point of the Turkish giants' attack. Coupled with the €12m signing of Kojo Peprah Oppong from OGC Nice on August 28, Fenerbahçe have invested €18m in two targeted additions designed to bolster their frontline.

The recruitment, however, tells only half the story. Fenerbahçe have been equally aggressive in trimming their squad, completing nine departures in a 21-day span. The headline exit is goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, who joins Barcelona for €2m — a modest fee that suggests the Croatian international pushed for the move. Midfielder Sidiki Chérif has departed for Coventry City in the window's biggest single transaction at €24.5m, a sale that alone covers the club's entire outlay on incoming talent and then some.

The exodus extends well beyond those two names. Fred, the experienced Brazilian midfielder, has returned to South America with Atlético Mineiro for €2m, while Omar Fayed moved to Frosinone for €500k. Sofyan Amrabat left for AFC Ajax on a free transfer on August 30, a notable departure given the Moroccan international's profile. Anthony Musaba has joined Norwich City on loan, offering the winger a chance to develop in the English Championship.

Several domestic moves have further lightened the wage bill. Goalkeeper İrfan Can Eğribayat signed for Gençlerbirliği on a free transfer early in the window, followed by Emre Demir's free move to Alanyaspor and Cengiz Ünder's departure to Çorum FK, also without a fee. These exits clear considerable salary space and suggest the club is streamlining around a leaner, more focused core.

On balance, Fenerbahçe emerge from this window in a healthy financial position. The €24.5m Chérif sale, combined with the Livakovic, Fred, and Fayed fees, means the club has generated roughly €29m in transfer income against €18m in spending — a net positive of approximately €11m. The arrival of Lukaku gives them a proven goalscorer, while Oppong, at €12m, represents a significant investment in emerging talent from Ligue 1. The challenge now falls to the coaching staff: integrating two new attackers while compensating for the loss of Livakovic between the posts and Amrabat's presence in midfield. If Lukaku can rediscover peak form in Istanbul, this could prove to be a window that reshapes Fenerbahçe's season.