Caner Erkin (, born 4 October 1988) is a Turkish professional former footballer.
Club career
Early years Erkin began his professional career at the start of the 2004–05 season with Manisaspor who at the time were playing in the Second Division. That season they won the league and got promoted to the Süper Lig. During his 1.5-year stay at Manisaspor in, he scored 5 goals in 39 games. In the January 2007 transfer window, he moved to CSKA Moscow, for a £3.5 million transfer fee. He has played a total of 40 games, 7 in the UEFA Champions League and also won the Russian Super Cup on two occasions. On 31 August 2009, Galatasaray signed Erkin on a one-year loan from CSKA Moscow with an option to purchase at the end of the season.
Fenerbahçe Erkin signed for Fenerbahçe in 2010. Starting out as a left winger, he was slowly transformed into a left-back. His performances with led to him being scouted by several prominent European clubs.
In 2014, he signed a new two-year contract.
Inter Milan On 1 June 2016, Inter Milan announced the signing of Erkin, on a free transfer in a three-year deal starting on 1 July. Erkin was the first summer transfer addition to the squad. Under Roberto Mancini and new coach Frank de Boer, Erkin made seven appearances in pre-season friendlies. However, he did not make any competitive debut before leaving Inter on 30 August. Inter also ran out of players quota in 2016–17 UEFA Europa League, as the club was forced to reduce to 22-men squad (plus normal minimum requirement of homegrown and club-trained players) due to penalty of UEFA Financial Fair Play Regulations, thus Caner was sacrificed for other signings. Domestically, Inter had one quota left (plus another for an Inter-trained player), but left vacant.
Loan to Beşiktaş On 30 August 2016, Inter Milan announced that Erkin signed a one-year loan deal with Turkish club Beşiktaş.
Beşiktaş On 7 June 2017, Beşiktaş signed Erkin for €750,000 transfer fee. On 23 August 2019, Erkin scored the second goal of 2019–20 Süper Lig Week 2 home encounter, from a cross of his gone in the net, against Göztepe S.K. which ended 3–0 in favour of Beşiktaş. He was released at the end of the 2019–20 Süper Lig season.
Return to Fenerbahçe On 6 August 2020, he signed a two-year deal until June 2022 with an option for an extra year. After four years at Beşiktaş, the other side of Istanbul, he returned to Fenerbahçe. On 11 September, in his first game back against Çaykur Rizespor, he assisted Gökhan Gönül's header, who was a returnee like himself.
On 4 August 2021, Fenerbahçe announced that he would not be included in the club's squad for the upcoming season according to the team's manager Vitor Pereira's decision.
Fatih Karagümrük On 6 September 2021, Fatih Karagümrük announced the signing of Erkin, as a free agent.
İstanbul Başakşehir On 28 January 2023, Erkin signed a 1.5-year contract with İstanbul Başakşehir.
Eyüpspor On 11 July 2023, Erkin joined Turkish Second Division side Eyüpspor, as a free agent.
Sakaryaspor On 7 July 2025, Erkin joined Turkish Second Division side Sakaryaspor, as a free agent.
International career In 2005, at the U-17 World Cup, Caner was a vital part of the Turkey team which finished in fourth place. Caner scored 4 goals in the tournament.
Erkin made his debut for the Turkey national football team at the age of 17 in a friendly match against Ghana in May 2006. His first goal was against Ukraine on 5 June 2012.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupEuropeTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsManisaspor2004–05TFF First League4000—402005–06Süper Lig24200—2422006–0715220—172Total4342000454CSKA Moscow2007Russian Premier League814020141200818131202322009701030110Total3328170483Galatasaray (loan)2009–10Süper Lig2006340303Fenerbahçe2010–11Süper Lig22130102612011–1231251—3632012–13300711635342013–1430310203332014–1531351—3642015–1613041100271Total157925429321116Inter Milan2016–17Serie A00000000Beşiktaş (loan)2016–17Süper Lig800030110Beşiktaş2017–18Süper Lig21050503102018–19281001113922019–203033140374Total874812311186Fenerbahçe2020–21Süper Lig3403000370Fatih Karagümrük2021–22Süper Lig29120—3112022–23Süper Lig12000—120Total3112000331İstanbul Başakşehir2022–23Süper Lig7030—100Eyüpspor2023–24TFF First League26800—268Career total4382857963455841
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsTurkey2006202008102009302010202011102012912013802014121201560201690201720202030202170Total632
Scores and results list Turkey's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Erkin goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Caner ErkinNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 5 June 2012 Audi Sportpark, Ingolstadt, Germany 1–0 2–0 Friendly2 29 May 2014 Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C., United States 2–0 2–0 Friendly
Honours Fenerbahçe Süper Lig: 2010-11, 2013–14 Turkish Cup: 2011–12, 2012–13 Turkish Super Cup: 2014
CSKA Moscow Russian Cup: 2007–08, 2008–09
Beşiktaş Süper Lig: 2016–17
References
External links