Super Eagles forward Kelechi Iheanacho has expressed his delight after marking his competitive debut for Bursaspor with a goal and an assist, as the Turkish second-tier side began their 2026/27 promotion push with a 2-0 away victory over Bodrum FK on Sunday. The 29-year-old was subsequently named Man of the Match for his influential display.
Iheanacho broke the deadlock in the 27th minute with a close-range finish, a goal that was initially flagged for offside before a VAR check confirmed his run had been perfectly timed. Shortly before the interval, he then turned provider, teeing up a teammate to double Bursaspor’s advantage and send the visitors into the break firmly in control. As a result, the away side managed the remainder of the contest comfortably to secure all three points on the opening day.
Beyond his direct goal involvement, the former Manchester City and Leicester City man was a constant threat throughout, taking three shots, the joint-most of any player in the match, while also creating two additional chances and completing 86 percent of his passes.
Iheanacho’s bright start comes after he completed a free transfer to Bursaspor in July, bringing an end to a single, productive season at Celtic. During his time in Glasgow, the forward scored nine goals across all competitions despite battling injury setbacks, and played a role in the Hoops securing a domestic double by winning the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup.
Although Celtic reportedly explored extending his stay, negotiations over a new contract ultimately broke down, paving the way for his move to Turkey on a three-year deal.
Meanwhile, Iheanacho had previously explained that Bursaspor’s ambitious project played a central role in his decision to join the club. He revealed that the club’s stated aim of returning to the Turkish Super Lig, and eventually competing in Europe, convinced him to instruct his agent to push the move through. Following his impressive full debut, the Nigerian forward will now be eager to build on his early impact as Bursaspor look to sustain their promotion charge.
Iheanacho’s smooth transition into Turkish football offers a reminder of his continued sharpness in front of goal, even as he currently finds himself outside Eric Chelle’s squad plans. The forward last featured for Nigeria in the 2025 Unity Cup final, and while his focus for now remains on helping Bursaspor climb back to the Super Lig, a sustained run of goal contributions at club level could reignite conversations about his involvement in future Super Eagles squads, particularly with Nigeria still searching for attacking reinforcements following their absence from the 2026 World Cup.
Bursaspor, who sit second in the early Turkish second-tier standings following their opening-day win, will look to build on their positive start when they host Igdir in their next league fixture on Saturday.
The challenge now is to carry his man-of-the-match form into the coming weeks as he seeks to establish himself as a key figure in his new club’s promotion ambitions.
