Galatasaray have agreed to sign French center-back El-Chadaille Bitshiabu on loan from RB Leipzig, with the 21-year-old arriving in Istanbul on Wednesday to complete the final steps of the transfer.
Bitshiabu traveled from Germany on a private flight and landed at Atatürk Airport’s General Aviation Terminal, where he was greeted by members of the media and waiting Galatasaray supporters.
“I am very happy,” Bitshiabu said after arriving. “I hope we can achieve very big things together here. I am looking forward to meeting the Galatasaray family and the fans.”
The defender then waved to supporters before leaving the airport in a waiting vehicle.
Galatasaray said it had reached an agreement with Leipzig and had begun formal negotiations with the German club and the player for a temporary transfer. Bitshiabu is expected to undergo his medical examination before signing his official contract.
The loan is set to run through June 30, 2027. Reports in Türkiye indicate Galatasaray will pay about 2 million euros for the loan and have an option to make the transfer permanent for a fee in the region of 25 million to 30 million euros.
Bitshiabu, who is under contract with Leipzig through June 2029, gives Galatasaray another young option in central defense as the club prepares for a season featuring a domestic title defense and Champions League competition.
Born May 16, 2005, in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, France, Bitshiabu is a 1.96-meter (6-foot-5) left-footed defender who can also operate on the left side of the defense.
He began his youth career with US Saint-Denis before spells at AC Boulogne-Billancourt and Paris Saint-Germain. He joined PSG's academy in 2017 and quickly emerged as one of the club's most highly regarded young defenders.
Bitshiabu made his competitive first-team debut for PSG as a teenager and went on to make 14 Ligue 1 appearances across the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, as well as featuring in domestic cup and European competitions. He was part of PSG squads that won back-to-back Ligue 1 titles.
He left Paris in July 2023, joining Leipzig in a reported 15 million-euro deal that could rise with bonuses.
Bitshiabu has since made roughly 38 Bundesliga appearances and about 48 appearances in all competitions for Leipzig. His opportunities have varied during his three seasons in Germany, with competition for places limiting his playing time at times.
His most consistent stretch came during the 2024-25 season, when he saw a greater role in Leipzig's defense.
Galatasaray see the move as an opportunity to strengthen their defensive depth with a player who combines considerable physical presence with the ability to play out from the back.
At 21, Bitshiabu also fits the club's efforts to add younger players with long-term potential while maintaining a squad capable of competing immediately at the highest level.
For Bitshiabu, the move offers a chance to take on a more prominent role after struggling to establish himself as a regular starter at Leipzig.
He also arrives with international experience at youth level. Bitshiabu represented France through several age groups and was part of the France under-17 team that won the 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.
