After a mixed spell at LOSC and a loan in Belgium at Royal Antwerp, Mohamed Bayo is preparing to take on a new challenge in Turkey. The 27-year-old Guinean international forward will join Gaziantep FK on a season-long loan without an option to buy, as confirmed by several sources including Foot Mercato and Africa Soccer. Under contract with Lille until June 2027, Bayo will seek regular playing time to revive his career after modest performances in Ligue 1 and the Jupiler Pro League.
This transfer marks the third foreign experience for the former Clermont player, who joined Lille in 2022. Despite his potential, he has never managed to establish himself permanently in Lille’s squad, limited by strong competition for his position. His 35 appearances with Lille, Le Havre, and Antwerp resulted in a total of 3 goals and 6 assists, figures that do not yet reflect his talent. With an estimated annual salary of 1.8 million euros and a market value close to 2.8 million euros, a permanent transfer proved complicated this summer, making the loan to Gaziantep FK the best option for both player and club.
At Gaziantep FK, Mohamed Bayo will reunite with a coach well known in northern France: Burak Yilmaz, a former Lille striker during their 2020-2021 Ligue 1 title-winning season. Yilmaz will try to maximize the Guinean forward’s qualities to strengthen a team currently fighting near the bottom of the Turkish Süper Lig standings. Gaziantep aims to improve results and escape relegation struggles, and Bayo’s offensive contribution will be crucial from the start of the league campaign.
For Mohamed Bayo, this Turkish chapter is an opportunity for reinvention. By playing regularly in the Süper Lig, he hopes to regain his scoring efficiency and attract attention again, whether for a return to LOSC or a transfer to another club. The 2025-2026 season promises to be decisive for a player once considered among France’s most promising young talents. His performances at Gaziantep FK will be closely observed as he seeks to overcome a professional career start marked by successive loans and a search for sporting stability.