Çalhanoğlu scores 15th free-kick goal [divider]

Hakan Çalhanoğlu scored his 15th direct free-kick goal when he put Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 ahead against FC Cologne.

Bayer ended up winning the game 5-1 but the main talking point was Çalhanoğlu’s stunning free-kick from 30 yards out.

Çalhanoğlu has a reputation as being a set-piece specialist and has scored three free-kicks this season.

The Turkish international joined Bayer for €14.5 million this summer – the highest fee ever paid for a Turkish international.

Çalhanoğlu was named best young player of the 2013/14 season by leading German football magazine 11 Freunde.

The young midfielder has also been nominated for the Golden Boy 2014 award.

The 20-year-old has scored 15 direct free kick goals over the the last two seasons.

Çalhanoğlu scored 11 times and provided five assists in his breakthrough season in the Bundesliga for HSV before joining Bayer.

The Bayer star already has six goals and six assists for Bayer this season.