Anthony Dennis has completed his transfer from Göztepe to Al Jazira after the UAE Pro League club agreed a €5 million deal for the Nigerian midfielder.
Al Jazira announced the signing on 23 August and registered the 22-year-old as a resident player. The club said: “The wait is over! Officially: Al Jazira Club completes the signing of the young midfielder Anthony Dennis and register him as a resident player.”
Dennis joined Göztepe from HB Academy Abuja in 2023 and initially played for the club’s youth team. He made his senior debut against Çorum in January 2024 before helping Göztepe secure promotion to the Turkish Süper Lig.
The midfielder established himself in Göztepe’s first team and made 83 appearances for the club. He scored five goals and provided two assists during his time in Turkey.
His performances attracted interest from several European clubs, including Anderlecht, Coventry City and Sassuolo. However, Göztepe completed negotiations with Al Jazira before any of those clubs secured his signature.
Sassuolo made a late attempt to sign Dennis before the UAE club finalised the transfer. The move ends his three-year spell with Göztepe and takes him into the UAE Pro League.
Göztepe confirmed his departure in a statement that read: “Oyuncumuz Anthony Dennis’in, Birleşik Arap Emirlikleri kulübü Al-Jazira Club’a kesin transferi konusunda anlaşma sağlanmıştır.”
The Turkish club also thanked Dennis for his contribution and wished him success at Al Jazira.
Dennis has received attention from the Nigeria national team but has yet to become a regular Super Eagles player. His move to the UAE has also raised questions about his future international options, although he has not announced any decision to represent the United Arab Emirates.
