Gökdeniz Bayrakdar

Gökdeniz Bayrakdar (born 23 November 2001) is a Turkish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Süper Lig club Bodrum. He has represented Turkey at youth level.

Gökdeniz Bayrakdar

Bayrakdar with Antalyaspor in 2021
Personal information
Full name	Gökdeniz Bayrakdar[1]
Date of birth	(2001-11-23) 23 November 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth	Kandıra, Turkey
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Winger
Team information
Current team	Bodrum
Number	41
Youth career
2013–2014	Yenişehirspor
2014–2016	Kandıra
2016–2017	Kocaelispor
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2020	Kocaelispor	79	(20)
2020–2023	Antalyaspor	73	(10)
2023	→ Bodrumspor (loan)	22	(9)
2023–	Bodrum	59	(9)
International career‡
2020	Turkey U19	4	(0)
2021–2022	Turkey U21	11	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10:09, 15 Mach 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14 June 2022

Early years

Gökdeniz Bayrakdar was born on 23 November 2001, in Kandıra, Kocaeli Province to a family originally from Trabzon. He has two older brothers, and his father owns a grocery story, and his mother is a housewife.^[2] As his family were passionate Trabzonspor fans, Bayrakdar was named after their club legend, Gökdeniz Karadeniz.^[2]

Bayrakdar quickly became devoted to football, and started playing on the streets. At age nine, he was enrolled by his father at a football school in his hometown of Kandıra, before playing in the youth teams of Yenişehirspor and Kandıra.^[2] He was then scouted by Kocaelispor after three successful training sessions.^[2]

Club career

Kocaelispor

Bayrakdar made his senior debut after one year at the Kocaelispor academy as a substitute in a 1–0 Turkish Cup loss to Düzcespor on 30 August 2017.^[3] His first league appearance followed on 10 September, as he came off the bench in 77th minute for Burak Süleyman in a 2–1 home loss to Uşakspor in the fourth level TFF Third League.^[4] On 15 October, Bayrakdar scored his first goal in a 1–1 draw against Osmaniyespor.^[5]

Antalyaspor

After successful seasons and interest from Beşiktaş, Bayrakdar signed a contract with Antalyaspor in the summer of 2020 after Kocaelispor's 10-year transfer ban had been lifted.^[6] Bayrakdar made his professional debut for the club on 19 September 2020, coming off the bench for Nuri Şahin in a 1–1 Süper Lig draw against Beşiktaş on 19 September 2020, scoring his side's only goal in his debut.^[7]

Bodrumspor

On 11 January 2023, Bayrakdar joined Bodrumspor on loan until the end of the 2022–23 season, with an option to buy.^[8]

International career

Bayrakdar has been capped for Turkey U19 and Turkey U21.^[2]

Style of play

Bayrakdar has been utilised in a variety of positions due to his technical skill set and his understanding of the game. He can play as a striker, a winger or as an attacking midfielder. Usually deployed on the right wing, Bayrakdar often cuts inside on his left foot to move to a more central attacking position, and uses his speed and dribbling skills to take on defenders until he finds the space to make an attempt on goal, much like Arjen Robben.^[9] In addition, he has a pronounced goal instinct.^[10]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 16 March 2025^[11]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Turkish Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Kocaelispor	2017–18	TFF Third League	19	3	1	0	—		20	3
	2018–19	TFF Third League	32	5	2	0	2[a]	0	36	5
	2019–20	TFF Third League	27	12	2	1	—		29	13
	Total		78	20	5	1	2	0	85	21
Antalyaspor	2020–21	Süper Lig	31	6	6	2	—		37	8
	2021–22	Süper Lig	29	2	5	4	1[b]	0	35	6
	2022–23	Süper Lig	13	2	2	0	—		15	2
	Total		73	10	13	6	1	0	87	16
Bodrum (loan)	2022–23	TFF 1. Lig	22	9	—		—		22	9
Bodrum	2023–24	TFF 1. Lig	37	9	1	0	—		38	9
	2024–25	Süper Lig	22	0	4	4	—		26	4
	Total		59	9	5	4	—		64	13
Career total			222	48	23	11	3	0	258	59

1. Appearances in TFF Third League promotion play-offs
2. Appearance in Turkish Super Cup