Turkish club Besiktas have terminated the contract of young winger Emirhan Delibas following the circulation of a dating profile containing inaccurate information about him which went viral.

A Bumble dating profile surfaced online featuring Delibas’ picture while claiming he was 24 years old (he is 21) and seeking casual encounters. This sparked controversy, and while Delibas vehemently denied owning the profile, labelling it “fake,” Besiktas decided to part ways with him.

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Besiktas released a statement soon after that they terminated his contract, with Besiktas wishing Delibas well in his future endeavors. Neither party disclosed the reasoning behind the decision, though public speculation linked it to the viral profile.

Delibas took to social media to defend himself, rejecting the “slanders” and emphasizing his loyalty to the club. He described Besiktas as a “responsibility” and expressed gratitude for the fans’ support.

“I reject the slanders made by fake accounts and would like to state that my loyalty to my team cannot be questioned.” He added: “Besiktas is a responsibility for me. Your love has been my greatest motivation.”

Despite coming through Besiktas’ youth system, Delibas saw limited opportunities with the senior team. He made only two league appearances and featured briefly in the Europa Conference League, accumulating just 14 minutes of playing time in total.

Currently, Besiktas sit fourth in the Super Lig, significantly behind the leading teams. Their European campaign ended in the group stage with only one win in six matches.