Manchester United and Fenerbahçe may be separated by more than 2,500 kilometres, but the two European giants have developed a surprisingly strong connection over the years.
From Premier League champions to academy graduates, midfield workhorses and international stars, a growing list of players have worn both the famous red shirt of Manchester United and the yellow and navy colours of Fenerbahçe.
That connection has become even stronger in the summer of 2026.
Mason Greenwood has already completed his move to Istanbul, while Romelu Lukaku is now closing in on becoming the latest former Manchester United player to join Fenerbahçe.
So who else has represented both clubs?
Robin van Persie
Perhaps the most famous name linking Manchester United and Fenerbahçe is Robin van Persie.
The Dutch striker arrived at Old Trafford from Arsenal in 2012 and immediately became the decisive figure in Sir Alex Ferguson’s final Premier League title triumph.
Van Persie scored 26 league goals in his debut campaign, including the unforgettable hat-trick against Aston Villa that secured United’s 20th English league title. He eventually finished his United career with 58 goals in 105 appearances across all competitions.
After three seasons in Manchester, Van Persie left for Fenerbahçe in the summer of 2015.
His connection with United did not end there. In October 2016, Van Persie returned to Old Trafford with Fenerbahçe in the Europa League and scored against his former club in a 4-1 defeat.
It remains one of the most memorable examples of a player representing both sides of this unusual footballing connection.
Nani
Van Persie was not the only Manchester United star to swap Old Trafford for Istanbul in 2015.
Nani made the same journey that summer after eight years as a United player.
The Portuguese winger made 230 appearances for the Red Devils and was part of one of the most successful periods in the club’s modern history. He won four Premier League titles and was also part of the squad that lifted the Champions League in 2008.
At his best, Nani was one of the Premier League’s most unpredictable attacking players, capable of producing spectacular goals with either foot.
Fenerbahçe signed him in July 2015, shortly before Van Persie’s arrival, creating an unexpected reunion between two former United stars in Turkey.
Nani spent one season in Istanbul before moving on to Valencia.
Joshua King
Joshua King is probably the easiest name to forget on this list.
The Norwegian striker joined Manchester United’s academy as a teenager and eventually made two competitive first-team appearances before leaving the club permanently for Blackburn Rovers in 2013.
King would later establish himself as a regular Premier League forward, most notably during his time with Bournemouth.
Nearly a decade after leaving Old Trafford, he completed a move to Fenerbahçe in 2022.
King spent two seasons with the Turkish club, giving him a very different career path from the superstar names usually associated with the Manchester United-Fenerbahçe connection.
Fred
Unlike several others on this list, Fred moved directly from Manchester United to Fenerbahçe.
The Brazilian midfielder spent five seasons at Old Trafford after joining from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2018.
He made more than 200 appearances for United and gradually became a popular figure among supporters because of his energy, pressing and willingness to cover huge distances in midfield.
Fred was also part of the team that won the League Cup under Erik ten Hag in 2023.
Just months later, his Manchester United career came to an end when Fenerbahçe completed his transfer in August 2023.
The move proved another example of Fenerbahçe turning to a player with significant experience at Old Trafford.
Altay Bayındır
Not every player on this list travelled from Manchester to Istanbul.
Altay Bayındır went in the opposite direction.
The Turkish goalkeeper established himself at Fenerbahçe after joining the club in 2019 and went on to become one of the team’s most recognisable players.
Manchester United signed Bayındır from Fenerbahçe on September 1, 2023, making him the first Turkish player in the club’s history.
His opportunities at Old Trafford were initially limited, but he produced one of his most memorable performances in the FA Cup against Arsenal in January 2025, saving a penalty during normal time before making another save in the shootout.
In August 2026, United sent Bayındır to Celta Vigo on loan, but his place in the history connecting these two clubs had already been secured.
Sofyan Amrabat
Sofyan Amrabat’s Manchester United career lasted only one season, but it ended with silverware.
The Morocco international arrived on loan from Fiorentina in 2023 and made 30 appearances across all competitions.
His finest moment came at Wembley in the 2024 FA Cup final, where he played an important role as United stunned Manchester City 2-1 to lift the trophy.
United decided not to keep him permanently.
Instead, Amrabat joined Fenerbahçe from Fiorentina on loan in August 2024, putting him alongside another former United midfielder, Fred, in Istanbul.
When Manchester United travelled to face Fenerbahçe in the Europa League in October 2024, both Fred and Amrabat started in midfield against their former club.
Mason Greenwood
The Manchester United-Fenerbahçe connection gained another major name in the summer of 2026.
Mason Greenwood came through United’s academy and was once regarded as one of the most naturally gifted finishers produced by the club in years.
He made 129 first-team appearances for Manchester United and scored 35 goals before spending the 2023/24 season on loan at Getafe.
Greenwood then left United permanently for Marseille in July 2024.
Two years later, another chapter began.
Fenerbahçe officially announced Greenwood’s arrival on July 14, 2026, handing the 24-year-old a four-year contract.
He made his competitive debut later that month and did not have to wait long for his first goal, scoring in Fenerbahçe’s 2-0 victory over Sturm Graz in August.
Greenwood therefore became the seventh player to have represented the senior sides of both Manchester United and Fenerbahçe.
Romelu Lukaku could be next
And the list appears to be about to grow again.
Romelu Lukaku is now closing in on a move to Fenerbahçe from Napoli after the Turkish club reached an agreement for the Belgian striker.
Personal terms have also reportedly been agreed, leaving the final paperwork and formal announcement as the remaining steps before the transfer is completed.
Until Fenerbahçe officially announce the signing, Lukaku cannot technically be counted as a player who has represented both clubs. But everything currently points towards him becoming the eighth name on the list.
Lukaku spent two seasons at Manchester United after arriving from Everton in 2017.
He scored 42 goals in 89 appearances for the club, including 27 during his first season, before leaving Old Trafford to join Inter Milan in 2019.
The Belgian has since played for Chelsea, Inter, Roma and Napoli, but Istanbul now appears set to become the next stop in his career.
A connection that keeps growing
What began with individual transfers has gradually developed into a remarkable footballing connection between two of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Nani and Van Persie made the move together in 2015. Joshua King followed years later. Fred went directly from Manchester to Istanbul, while Altay Bayındır travelled in the opposite direction. Sofyan Amrabat then joined Fred in Turkey after his own season at Old Trafford.
Now Mason Greenwood has become part of the story, and Romelu Lukaku appears ready to add another high-profile name.
Seven players have already represented both Manchester United and Fenerbahçe at senior level.
If Lukaku’s transfer is completed as expected, that number will soon become eight.
And considering Fenerbahçe’s recent history in the transfer market, it might not be the last time an Old Trafford connection finds its way to Istanbul.
