From the buzzing stands of Türk Telekom Stadium to Galatasaray’s storied archives, fans often wonder: who holds the record for the most assists in Galatasaray history? In the purest expression of football’s artistry — the pass before the goal — there are a few names that echo through the past. In this article, BKKGoal will trace the trail of creators, compare their numbers, and try to crown the ultimate playmaker in the Lions’ legacy.
What counts as an assist — and the challenge of record-keeping
Before diving deep, it’s worth clarifying what “assist” really means in this context. Official record-keeping in Turkish football (especially decades ago) was inconsistent. Some assists are tracked only for league matches, others include cups, European competition, or all official matches. Moreover, older eras often lacked meticulous data — so any all-time ranking has an element of uncertainty.
Because of that, when we speak of “most assists in Galatasaray history,” what we often refer to is the best-known, verifiable data. It’s possible that earlier stars of Galatasaray had more unrecorded assists. Still, among modern-era players with reliable stats, one name stands head-and-shoulders above the rest.
Dries Mertens: The modern-day assist king
When you scan the recent seasons, Belgian forward-midfielder Dries Mertens emerges as a legitimate candidate for the title of most assists in Galatasaray history (among tracked players). Since joining the club in August 2022, Mertens has consistently delivered in the final pass.
In his second season (2023-24), he led the Süper Lig in assists — not just for Gala but across the league. edia]) Over the course of his tenure, numbers show him providing 21 assists in his last season’s 52 appearances.
If you aggregate his assists over all competitions during his time at Galatasaray, Mertens’ count is now likely unmatched among current players. While exact totals (league + cups + Europe) are harder to pin down reliably, his consistency — season after season — makes him the leading assist provider in the club’s modern standing.
Other strong contenders
Though Mertens stands out today, the history of Galatasaray has seen many creative talents. Here are a few worth noting:
- Selçuk İnan: A midfielder whose flair and set-piece genius made him a crowd favorite. In the 2012-13 season alone, he recorded 13 assists across competitions for Gala.
- Kerem Aktürkoğlu: During his time with Galatasaray, Kerem also stood out as a dual threat — scoring and assisting. In the 2023-24 season, he put up seven assists in the Sü.
- Historic and less-documented players: Going further back, older stars like Hakan Şükür, Metin Oktay, or later-generation talents may have amassed assists that simply weren’t tracked reliably. Because of incomplete data, it’s difficult to challenge Mertens’ position using older eras.
Assist leaders by competition
To get a finer grain view, here’s a look at how assists stack within certain competitions for Galatasaray:
| Competition | Leading assist(s) for Galatasaray | Assist count (reported) |
| Europa / UEFA Cups | Dries Mertens, Abdul Kader Ke Mauro Icardi | 2 (in Europa contexts) |
| League / domestic | Dries Mertens | 18 assists in a league season |
These segmented rankings show Mertens isn’t just a one-season star — he contributes across formats.
Why Mertens likely tops all-time for assists
Putting all the pieces together:
- High consistency — He has delivered assists season after season, in league and cup play.
- Top league season — Leading the Süper Lig in assists proves he’s not justust racking up in easy games.
- Modern data reliability — Most accurate, comprehensive assist records exist for the years Mertens played; predecessors’ data is incomplete.
- No known rival with higher verified total — Among the current and recent crop of Galatasaray playmakers, none match his accumulative numbers.
Given these facts, the evidence leans strongly toward Dries Mertens as the officially recognized leader in assists for Galatasaray, at least in the modern record era.
What this means for Galatasaray fans & legacy
To fans, knowing the most assists in Galatasaray history gives a fresh perspective. Often, goal scorers get the glory, but creators like Mertens quietly build legend. As Galatasaray continues to chase domestic and European glory, it’s fitting that one of its most pivotal creators should also wear the crown in this stat.
Moreover, every time a young Turkish talent or foreign signing arrives at Gala, comparisons will arise: can they match or exceed Mertens’ legacy of assists?
Final Thoughts
As we look back over the records, the name Dries Mertens emerges as the most likely holder of the title “most assists in Galatasaray history” — at least among documented modern players. His consistency, high assist seasons, and cross-competition contributions give him a claim that is hard to dispute.
If you’re a Galatasaray fan or simply a student of football history, keep an eye on upcoming seasons: whether Mertens extends that lead or a new creator leaps up to challenge him.
Did you enjoy this breakdown? For more deep dives — player profiles, club records, and season stats — stay tuned with BKKGoal
