Midfielder to sign on a two-year deal...
Walsall FC are delighted to confirm that diminutive attacking midfielder Erhun Oztumer has agreed to join the club on a two-year deal, commencing on 1st July.The 25-year-old will link up with the Saddlers once his contract with League One rivals Peterborough expires at the end of this month.
He becomes the Saddlers’ second summer recruit following the arrival of Bermudan midfielder Kacy Milan Butterfield earlier this week.
Born in Greenwich, Oztumer spent nine years at Charlton prior to joining Turkish side Manisaspor’s youth scheme in 2008, aged 16.
He then spent time with Sivasspor and Anadolu Uskudar, where he made 35 league appearances, before returning to England with non-league Dulwich Hamlet in 2012.
Oztumer went on to score over 60 goals in all competitions and helped Dulwich win the Isthmian League Division One South title in 2012/13.
He moved to Peterborough for an undisclosed fee in June 2014 and played 58 times over two seasons with Posh, scoring seven goals.
“It’s brilliant to be here,” said Oztumer. “It’s been smooth and we’ve been speaking for a few weeks.
“I’ve come down here and I’ve been impressed with what I’ve seen and I’m delighted to put my signature on the paper.
“The attraction is the way Walsall play. Playing against them for two years, I like the way they keep the ball and play the game. I think it suits me so this was my first choice.
“Hopefully I can get a lot of assists. I’m a player who likes to feed the strikers and hopefully I can add some goals to the team as well."
On being dubbed the ‘Turkish Messi’ by Peterborough supporters, Oztumer added: “It’s something you just have to laugh at.
"The comparison is that I’m short and left footed but I just try to be myself and keep improving and try to be the best I can be.”