Beşiktaş have abandoned their planned signing of England international Kyle Walker-Peters after the defender failed to report to Istanbul for a scheduled medical on multiple occasions. The right-back, currently a free agent after leaving Southampton, had reached an agreement in principle and was invited to complete routine tests ahead of signing. Successive postponements each requested by the player and attributed to personal issues ultimately exhausted the club’s patience.
In a brief announcement, Beşiktaş said the player had again asked for additional time and that, as a result, the transfer was withdrawn. The club stressed that it will continue its recruitment drive “in line with the policy it has determined,” a phrasing that signals both disappointment and a desire to move swiftly to other targets as pre-season preparations intensify.
Speculation in England suggests the hesitation may be linked to late Premier League interest. While no club has publicly stepped forward, the possibility of remaining in England where Walker-Peters is established and highly regarded could explain his reluctance to commit to Turkey without first exploring domestic options.
Walker-Peters came through Tottenham Hotspur’s academy and initially joined Southampton on loan in January 2020 before making a reported £12 million permanent switch later that year. Across five and a half seasons with the Saints he became a mainstay, racking up 202 appearances in all competitions more than any teammate over that span and earning a reputation for consistency and versatility on both flanks.
Despite his personal reliability, last season was brutal for Southampton. Walker-Peters started 35 Premier League matches but could not help prevent a historically poor campaign: the club finished with just 12 points, equaling one of the worst top-flight tallies on record and sealing relegation.
Internationally, he owns two senior England caps, both earned in 2022. Though not yet a regular at that level, his technical quality, recovery pace, and comfort in advanced wide positions have long made him a player of interest to data-led recruitment departments across Europe.
With the deal collapsed, Beşiktaş are expected to pivot quickly. Portuguese full-back Nélson Semedo available after the expiration of his Wolves contract is among the options being considered. The Istanbul side have already been active this window, adding Orkun Kökçü, David Jurasek, and Tammy Abraham, but a new right-sided defender now returns to the top of the list.
