Arda Guler - biography, statistics, age, weight, height

Biography of Arda Guler

Arda Guler - a creative midfielder for the Turkish national team and Real Madrid. In July 2023 he signed a six-year contract with the club until June 2029: the Madrid side activated the release clause (initial payment - €20 million, higher than the previously stated €17.5 million), while Guler himself asked Real Madrid to pay more than the clause in order to financially support Fenerbahce.

Guler started playing football in Ankara - at the Genclerbirligi academy (since 2014). In February 2019, when Arda was 13, he was noticed by Fenerbahce and invited to join the club's system. He progressed through all the key youth levels (U-15, U-16, U-19), and for the U-19 team he recorded 7 goals and 4 assists in 18 matches, particularly standing out in the playoffs (in the quarterfinal - 3 goals and an assist).

Guler signed his professional contract with the club on 13 January 2021 (for 2.5 years), and in the 2021/22 season he made his debut for the first team:

Key early career moments

• 19 August 2021 - first senior match (Europa League playoff against HJK, 1:0 win).
• Three days later in his Super Lig debut he provided an assist for the winning goal against Antalyaspor.
• In March 2022 he became the youngest goalscorer in Fenerbahce history in the Super Lig (shortly after turning 17).
• By May 2022 he had recorded 3+3 in just 255 minutes.

In spring 2022 the club extended his contract for three seasons.

In the 2022/23 season, after Mesut Ozil left, Guler received the symbolic number 10 for Fenerbahce. He started the league brightly (two goals in 21 minutes against Kasimpasa), and on 3 November 2022 he recorded his first European competition contribution (goal + assist) in a Europa League victory against Dynamo Kyiv. In the 2023 Turkish Cup final he performed at a leader's level and was recognized as one of the best players in the match. On 6 July 2023 Guler announced his departure from Fenerbahce.

The first period in Spain was complicated by injuries, so his official debut for Real Madrid took place on 6 January 2024 - in the Copa del Rey against Arandina (3:1).

In the 2024/25 season he made his Champions League debut on 17 September 2024 (against Stuttgart), scored his first goal of the season on 7 December away against Girona, and in the spring he received a rare series of starts: on 23 April 2025 he scored the winning goal against Getafe, and on 4 May he recorded a goal and an assist against Celta.

With the arrival of Xabi Alonso, Guler in the 2025/26 season began to appear more often in the starting lineup, including in a more central midfield role. On 30 August 2025 he scored his first goal of the season against Mallorca and was recognized as one of the best players of the match. At the end of September Arda was named La Liga U-23 Player of the Month, recording 2 goals and 2 assists.

Guler progressed through Turkey's youth national teams up to U-21, and made his debut for the senior national team on 19 November 2022 in a friendly win over the Czech Republic (2:1). He scored his first international goal on 19 June 2023 in the Euro 2024 qualification against Wales.

At Euro 2024 he was included in the squad of 26 players and made a strong impression:

• 18 June 2024 - goal in the opening match against Georgia (3:1) and the Player of the Match award.
• In the playoffs (3 July) he provided an assist in the victory over Austria (2:1), becoming one of the few teenagers in tournament history to both score and assist at a single European Championship.

Personal life of Arda Guler

Off the field Arda Guler tries to maintain a calm and grounded outlook on life - those around him note that his rapid rise in popularity has not separated him from his roots and family values. This helps him maintain a balance between public attention and the demands of top-level football.

In his free time Guler turns to activities that provide mental relaxation. Since childhood he has enjoyed playing chess and believes the game develops strategic thinking and patience. He is also interested in Turkish literature - among his favorite authors he highlights Orhan Pamuk. After moving to Madrid, Arda developed an interest in architecture: he enjoys visiting the city's historical sites and notes the combination of classical and modern design.

Despite his young age, Guler is involved in charitable initiatives - primarily in education and support for children from less privileged families in his hometown of Ankara. After joining Real Madrid he helped launch projects related to sports equipment and educational support for schools in less developed regions of Turkey. During the 2023 earthquake he was among the first to join relief efforts - both financially and through public appeals. In Spain Arda also participates in Real Madrid social programs, especially initiatives where football helps unite and support young people in Madrid's multicultural environment.

Interesting facts about Arda Guler

• He is originally from Ankara - the capital of Turkey. Guler began developing his football skills there before later moving to Istanbul to join the Fenerbahce system.
• The youngest goalscorer for the Turkish national team in an official match. His first goal for the national team in Euro 2024 qualification made Arda the youngest player to score for Turkey in a competitive match.
• Heir to the number 10 after Mesut Ozil. After Ozil left Fenerbahce, Arda received the number 10 shirt - a legendary number for the club (previously worn by players such as Alex de Souza). For a young player this was not only recognition but also pressure, which he reportedly handled with great maturity.
• His father deliberately trained his left foot. According to family stories, Arda's father, Umit, intentionally placed balls and even balloons near his son's left foot during childhood so he would shoot with it more often and develop the habit.
• When he worked as a ball boy - he helped predict a penalty save. While at the Genclerbirligi academy, Arda worked as a ball boy during first-team matches. In one game he shouted to the goalkeeper where he thought the penalty would go - the goalkeeper dived in that direction and saved the shot.

Statistics of Arda Guler

Club statistics

As of 8 February 2026

[a] Turkish Cup, Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Cup.
[b] UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, FIFA Club World Cup.

Scandals with Arda Guler

Despite his young age, Arda Guler has rarely been involved in serious controversies. However, his career has been accompanied by several widely discussed situations. One of them was the tense transfer from Fenerbahce to Real Madrid in the summer of 2023, when Turkish fans and part of the club's management criticized the player's entourage for leaving the team too quickly.

His injuries during his first season in Madrid were also periodically discussed in the media - some Turkish journalists and experts accused the club's medical staff of improper rehabilitation management. In addition, Guler sometimes became the subject of debate due to the high competition for places in the Real Madrid lineup, as fans and journalists argued about whether he was receiving enough playing time.

At the same time, the player himself tries to avoid public conflicts and maintains a reserved and professional behavior off the field.