Leeds United Star Near Exit as Personal Terms Are Already Agreed

Meslier exit edges closer as Besiktas talks advance

Illan Meslier’s long association with Leeds United appears to be drawing to a quiet conclusion, with Besiktas moving closer to securing the goalkeeper’s signature as talks progress. According to TeamTalk, the Turkish giants have made significant headway on personal terms and are now awaiting the necessary clearance to complete the deal.

Meslier is out of contract this summer and free to leave Elland Road, with Leeds having granted permission for the move to be completed for a nominal fee. With the Super Lig transfer window remaining open until Friday 6 February, there is a growing sense that the situation will be resolved in the coming days rather than drifting on.

The 24-year-old’s Leeds journey has been long and eventful. He arrived in August 2019 on loan from Lorient during Marcelo Bielsa’s tenure and quickly found himself thrust into the spotlight. An eight-match suspension for Kiko Casilla opened the door in February 2020, and Meslier seized the opportunity, establishing himself as first choice and never really looking back.

In total, he has made 215 appearances for the club, a tally that places him among a relatively small group of Leeds goalkeepers to reach such a milestone. His time in West Yorkshire has not been without turbulence, but he remained a central figure through promotion, survival battles and eventual relegation.

That status has shifted decisively under Daniel Farke. Meslier fell out of favour last season, and the arrival of Lucas Perri has further pushed him down the pecking order. This campaign, he has been named in only three matchday squads, a stark reflection of where he now stands.

For Besiktas, the move represents a solution forged out of persistence. TeamTalk report that discussions accelerated after initial contact earlier in the week, while Turkish outlet Sabah claim the club are ‘eagerly awaiting’ approval from England to finalise the transfer. The final decision rests with Meslier himself.

There is context to the Turkish side’s urgency. Sabah note that Meslier was their third-choice option, after failed attempts to sign Perri from Leeds and Filip Jorgensen from Chelsea, the latter blocked by BlueCo. That sequence has left Meslier as the clear focus, and Leeds preparing for a parting that now feels inevitable.