Okay Yokuşlu Uncovered: Age, Career, Wife and Rise
From İzmir’s youth pitches to Trabzonspor, La Liga, English football and two European Championships
Introdution
Okay Yokuşlu is a Turkish professional footballer known for his strength, positional discipline and intelligent defensive work. He mainly plays as a defensive midfielder but can also provide cover in central defence.
Born in İzmir, he began playing organised football as a child and reached the professional game before turning 16. His career has since taken him through Türkiye, Spain and England.
As of 12 July 2026, he is 32 years old and remains part of Trabzonspor’s first-team squad.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Okay Yokuşlu |
| Date of birth | 9 March 1994 |
| Age | 32 years old |
| Birthplace | Konak, İzmir, Türkiye |
| Nationality | Turkish |
| Profession | Professional footballer |
| Main position | Defensive midfielder |
| Other position | Central defender |
| Preferred foot | Right |
| Height | 1.90 metres |
| Listed weight | 79 kg |
| Current club | Trabzonspor |
| National team | Türkiye |
| Senior international record | 47 appearances and one goal |
| Wife | Melisa Yokuşlu |
| Children | Two |
| Contract expiry | 30 June 2027 |
| Contract option | One additional season controlled by Trabzonspor |
His official Trabzonspor player profile lists him as a 190 cm, 79 kg midfielder. Current football records identify defensive midfield as his main position and right foot as his preferred foot.
Who Is Okay Yokuşlu?
He is an experienced Turkish midfielder who has represented Altay, Kayserispor, Trabzonspor, Celta Vigo, West Bromwich Albion and Getafe.
He became familiar to British football supporters during his two periods with West Brom. His calm play, strength and ability to protect the defence made him a popular figure at The Hawthorns.
At international level, he has represented Türkiye from youth football through to the senior team. He was included in the squads for UEFA EURO 2020 and UEFA EURO 2024.
Early Life in İzmir
Yokuşlu was born in Konak, a central district of İzmir, on 9 March 1994.
He entered Karşıyaka’s football school when he was eight years old. He later moved into Altay’s youth system, where his development accelerated quickly.
Altay is one of İzmir’s historic football clubs and has developed many professional players. The young midfielder progressed into senior football in January 2010 while he was still only 15. Trabzonspor’s official career profile confirms his childhood start at Karşıyaka and his later development with Altay.
He also became recognised as an unusually young goalscorer. The Turkish Football Federation reported that he became the youngest scorer in Turkey’s second division when he scored his first Altay goal.
Public sources do not provide reliable information about his school education, university studies or academic qualifications. His recognised professional training came mainly through football academies and senior club environments.
Professional Debut With Altay
Altay gave him his first senior opportunity during the 2009–10 season.
Playing professional football at such a young age was an important test. He had to compete against physically stronger and more experienced players while continuing his own development.
He made more than 30 league appearances for Altay and scored four goals before leaving the club in 2011. His performances attracted Kayserispor, who signed him when he was 17.
Development at Kayserispor
The move to Kayserispor placed him in Turkey’s top division.
He made his Süper Lig debut against Antalyaspor in September 2011. Over the following seasons, he became a regular midfielder and gained valuable experience against the country’s strongest clubs.
Kayserispor were relegated at the end of the 2013–14 campaign, but he remained with the club. The team won the second division during the following season and returned immediately to the Süper Lig.
That period showed his commitment and helped prepare him for a move to one of Turkey’s biggest clubs.
First Trabzonspor Period
Trabzonspor signed the midfielder in July 2015.
His first period at the Black Sea club lasted three seasons. He became an important central player and gained experience in domestic cup matches, Süper Lig football and European qualifiers.
Across all competitions, he made more than 100 appearances during his first Trabzonspor spell. His performances also strengthened his position within the Türkiye national-team setup.
Move to Celta Vigo
In 2018, he moved abroad for the first time and joined Celta Vigo in Spain.
La Liga presented a different challenge. Spanish football required quick decision-making, technical control and strong tactical awareness.
He made 76 league appearances for Celta and scored twice. Although he was mainly used in defensive midfield, he also appeared in central defence when the team needed additional protection.
His period in Spain proved that he could compete outside Turkish football and adapt to one of Europe’s strongest leagues.
West Bromwich Albion Loan
West Bromwich Albion signed him on loan in February 2021.
He joined during a difficult Premier League campaign but quickly gained respect for his defensive strength, interceptions and composure on the ball.
The club was eventually relegated, yet his performances left a strong impression on supporters. He made 16 Premier League appearances during the loan.
His disciplined midfield role helped create balance behind more attacking players. Readers interested in other West Brom careers can also explore goalkeeper Josh Griffiths and American striker Daryl Dike.
Getafe Loan
After returning to Celta, he joined Getafe on loan in January 2022.
The move allowed him to remain in La Liga and gain more senior minutes. He appeared in 11 league matches before the loan ended.
Getafe did not complete a permanent transfer, and his contract with Celta was later terminated. That decision opened the door for a return to England.
Permanent Return to West Brom
West Brom brought him back permanently in July 2022.
This return was welcomed by supporters who remembered his Premier League performances. He became a central part of the Championship squad and was regularly used to protect the defence.
One of his best seasons came in 2022–23. His teammates selected him as West Bromwich Albion’s Players’ Player of the Year after he produced consistent performances and contributed important goals.
He also won the club’s 2023–24 Goal of the Season award for a powerful long-range strike against Huddersfield Town. The winner was selected through a supporter vote.
Across his loan and permanent spells, he played 105 matches and scored five goals for West Brom.
Return to Trabzonspor
On 31 July 2024, the midfielder returned to Trabzonspor.
The transfer ended his successful connection with West Brom and brought him back to a club where he had already spent three important seasons.
Trabzonspor gave him a three-year agreement with an option for a fourth season. His current registration runs until 30 June 2027.
As of July 2026, the club’s official website continues to include him in its first-team section. No official retirement or confirmed departure has been announced.
Türkiye National-Team Career
Yokuşlu represented Türkiye at several youth levels, including U15, U16, U17, U19, U20 and U21.
A major youth highlight came at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Türkiye. He scored against Australia as the host nation progressed to the knockout stage.
He made his senior international debut against Greece in November 2015. His first senior goal came in a 2–2 friendly draw with Montenegro in March 2018.
The midfielder was selected for UEFA EURO 2020 and played in three group-stage matches. He later returned to the tournament for EURO 2024.
Türkiye reached the EURO 2024 quarter-finals after defeating Austria in the round of 16. Yokuşlu appeared as a substitute in that match and also played in the quarter-final defeat against the Netherlands.
His latest widely maintained senior record stands at 47 international appearances and one goal.
His international journey can be compared with Croatian defender Josip Juranović, who also built his reputation through club football in several European countries.
Playing Position and Style
He is mainly a defensive midfielder.
His job is not simply to score or create chances. He protects defenders, blocks passing routes, challenges opponents and helps his team keep its shape.
His main qualities include:
- Strong positional awareness
- Physical strength
- Ability in aerial challenges
- Calm short passing
- Defensive interceptions
- Tactical discipline
- Ability to cover central defence
- Experience under pressure
At 1.90 metres, he gives his team physical strength in midfield. However, his effectiveness also comes from reading the game and positioning himself before danger develops.
Unlike attacking players such as Musa Barrow or powerful strikers such as Promise David, his contribution is normally measured through defensive stability rather than goals.
Wife and Children
His wife is Melisa Yokuşlu.
The couple’s family life has been publicly acknowledged by his clubs. In November 2022, he celebrated a West Brom goal by placing the ball under his shirt and later explained that his wife was expecting a baby boy.
On 1 February 2026, Trabzonspor announced that Melisa had given birth to a son the previous day. The club described the player as becoming a father for the second time, confirming that the couple have two children.
The family generally remains outside the media spotlight. Details such as their private home, wedding date and children’s daily lives should not be guessed.
Salary and Trabzonspor Contract
Trabzonspor publicly disclosed his guaranteed salary through Turkey’s Public Disclosure Platform.
According to the official KAP contract disclosure, the agreement provides:
| Season | Guaranteed payment |
|---|---|
| 2024–25 | ₺46,037,500 |
| 2025–26 | ₺51,075,000 |
| 2026–27 | ₺56,112,500 |
| 2027–28, if the option is used | ₺61,150,000 |
The agreement is structured as three guaranteed seasons plus a one-season club option. The filing also states that an agency-service payment equal to 4.8% of his gross salary is payable.
These are official contract figures. They do not confirm his complete wealth, personal assets or net worth.
Net Worth and Market Value
No reliable public record confirms his total net worth.
Websites that publish exact wealth figures without company documents, tax records or direct confirmation should be treated carefully.
A football market value is also different from personal wealth. Market value is only an estimate of what a player may be worth in the transfer market.
Transfermarkt valued him at approximately €1.2 million in May 2026. This figure can change according to age, form, playing time and contract length.
Awards and Achievements
His important achievements include:
- Winning Turkey’s second division with Kayserispor in 2014–15
- Making more than 100 appearances for West Bromwich Albion
- Winning West Brom’s 2022–23 Players’ Player of the Year award
- Winning West Brom’s 2023–24 Goal of the Season award
- Representing Türkiye at EURO 2020
- Helping Türkiye reach the EURO 2024 quarter-finals
- Playing professional football in Türkiye, Spain and England
His career may not be built around individual headlines, but it shows consistency, adaptation and long-term professional discipline.
Public Image
The Turkish international is generally known as a calm and team-focused footballer.
He rarely builds attention through controversial interviews or an extravagant public lifestyle. Most media coverage focuses on his performances, transfers, injuries and national-team career.
His popularity at West Brom was especially important. Supporters appreciated his willingness to work defensively, while teammates recognised his value by voting for him in the club awards.
Injuries
Like most long-serving professional footballers, he has experienced injury problems.
Trabzonspor reported a right-knee problem in November 2024 involving oedema and cartilage damage. The announcement was a public football-related medical update rather than evidence of a permanent health condition.
There is no reliable public confirmation of a serious current health condition.
Career Timeline
| Year | Career event |
|---|---|
| 2002 | Entered Karşıyaka’s football school |
| 2006 | Continued development with Altay |
| 2010 | Entered Altay’s senior team |
| 2011 | Signed for Kayserispor |
| 2015 | Joined Trabzonspor |
| 2015 | Made his senior Türkiye debut |
| 2018 | Signed for Celta Vigo |
| 2021 | Joined West Brom on loan |
| 2022 | Joined Getafe on loan |
| 2022 | Returned permanently to West Brom |
| 2023 | Won West Brom Players’ Player of the Year |
| 2024 | Won West Brom Goal of the Season |
| 2024 | Reached the EURO quarter-finals with Türkiye |
| 2024 | Returned to Trabzonspor |
| 2026 | Became a father for the second time |
Interesting Facts
- He began organised football at eight years old.
- He entered senior football before his 16th birthday.
- He was once the youngest scorer in Turkey’s second division.
- He has played in the Süper Lig, La Liga, Premier League and Championship.
- He has represented Türkiye at two European Championships.
- He made 105 appearances for West Bromwich Albion.
- His teammates voted him West Brom’s best player for the 2022–23 season.
- He returned to Trabzonspor six years after leaving for Spain.
- His football contract is publicly disclosed through KAP.
- He can play in both defensive midfield and central defence.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Okay Yokuşlu?
He is 32 years old as of July 2026. He was born on 9 March 1994.
Where was he born?
He was born in Konak, İzmir, Türkiye.
What is his nationality?
He is Turkish.
How tall is he?
Trabzonspor lists him at 1.90 metres tall.
Which position does he play?
He mainly plays as a defensive midfielder. He can also cover central defence.
Which club does he play for?
He plays for Trabzonspor in the Turkish Süper Lig.
Did he play for West Brom?
Yes. He played for West Brom on loan and later returned permanently. He made 105 appearances and scored five goals for the club.
Who is his wife?
His wife is Melisa Yokuşlu.
How many children does he have?
He has two children. Trabzonspor confirmed the birth of the couple’s second child in January 2026.
Has he played at the European Championship?
Yes. He represented Türkiye at EURO 2020 and EURO 2024.
What is his net worth?
No dependable public source confirms his complete personal net worth.
Conclusion
Okay Yokuşlu has built a long and respected career through discipline, physical strength and tactical intelligence.
Starting in İzmir, he reached professional football as a teenager before representing major clubs in Türkiye, Spain and England. His West Brom years made him popular with British supporters, while his international career allowed him to represent Türkiye on major European stages.
Now back at Trabzonspor, he remains an experienced midfielder whose greatest value comes from protecting his team, controlling central spaces and performing difficult work that is not always shown by goals or assists.
