Stevenage have announced the loan signing of Turkish forward Tuğra Turhan and are fresh from a commanding 5-1 victory away at Barnsley. The club, currently 15th in League One with six points from five games, is preparing for a home fixture against Luton on September 10.
Stevenage FC confirmed the season-long loan arrival of 19-year-old attacker Tuğra Turhan from Istanbul Başakşehir. The deal is pending a work visa for the young forward who has represented both Turkey and Switzerland at youth level. Turhan joined the Turkish Süper Lig side from Swiss club Grasshopper last year and is seen as a promising addition to the squad.
His arrival adds another option to a Stevenage attack that has scored nine goals in the league this season. Fans can view the full roster on the club's squad page.
Stevenage delivered a stunning performance to defeat Barnsley 5-1 at Oakwell on Saturday. The comprehensive win provided a significant boost to the team's goal difference, which now stands at +3. Daniel Kemp scored twice for Stevenage, with further goals from Oliver Sanderson, Terence Vancooten, and Michael Mellon securing the three points.
This result helped Stevenage climb the standings, though they remain six points behind early leaders Sheffield Wednesday. The victory was a stark contrast to their recent form, which had read WDDLD prior to the match.
Ahead of the fixture, Barnsley head coach Daniel Stendel spoke to the Yorkshire Post about managing his young players. Stendel expressed caution regarding the workload of teenage duo Arley Kay and Luke Alker, who had started every game this season. "We have to look to be a little bit careful with our young players," Stendel said.
He also noted that recent signings had bolstered his defensive options for the autumn period. Stendel's comments came as his team prepared for their second successive three-game week.
In the same Yorkshire Post report, Daniel Stendel provided an update on Ivorian striker Ben Hamed Touré. The manager confirmed Touré was a potential bench option for the Stevenage game if his visa clearance came through in time. Touré had joined from French side FC Annecy just days before the transfer deadline.
"Maybe, he is an option for the bench on Saturday," Stendel stated, while admitting he did not know if the paperwork would be completed. The manager described Touré as a "really positive guy" who offered something different in attack.
Stevenage's focus now shifts to their next challenge, a home match against 7th-placed Luton on Thursday, September 10.
