The trajectory of a professional footballer is rarely a straight line, but for Henry Onyekuru, the path has become a series of jarring pivots. Once the most feared winger in the Belgian Pro League, the 28-year-old now finds himself in the precarious position of an outcast, training in isolation away from his teammates at Genclerbirligi.
The rift between Onyekuru and his manager, former Turkish international goalkeeper Volkan Demirel, has reached a breaking point. After a string of disappointing performances and a lack of productivity on the pitch, Demirel has effectively sidelined the forward, removing him from the active squad and ordering him to train separately from the group. This internal exile comes at a critical juncture, as Onyekuru enters the final year of his contract, leaving his professional future in a state of flux.
The decision to isolate the player follows a dismal run of form in Turkish football. Despite the high expectations surrounding his return to Europe last summer, Onyekuru has struggled to find the clinical edge that once made him a multi-million euro prospect. His current tenure has been defined by a lack of impact, recording zero goals and zero assists across 17 appearances—consisting of just three starts and 14 substitute outings.
The tension peaked following two consecutive losses, most notably a bruising 3-0 defeat against Basaksehir. Onyekuru, who had recently regained a starting spot, was hauled off at halftime during that match, a move that signaled a complete loss of confidence from the coaching staff. The consequences were immediate: he was omitted from the squad for the high-profile clash against Galatasaray, a club where he previously spent three separate loan spells.
The ghost of a Belgian sensation
To understand the depth of this decline, one must look back at the version of Henry Onyekuru that captivated Belgium. During his second season with KAS Eupen, Onyekuru emerged as a powerhouse, finishing as the co-top scorer of the Pro League with 22 goals. It was a campaign of pure efficiency and explosive pace that turned him into one of the most sought-after young talents in Europe.
That prolific form triggered a move to the English Premier League, where Everton paid approximately €8 million to secure his services. However, the transition to English football was interrupted almost immediately. Rather than integrating into the Everton first team, he was sent on loan to Anderlecht. Whereas his talent was evident, his time in Brussels was plagued by recurring injuries, preventing him from establishing the same dominance he had enjoyed at Eupen.
The following years saw Onyekuru become a journeyman of sorts, moving between Turkey and Saudi Arabia. His stint with Al-Fayha in the Saudi Pro League lasted two years, a period that many analysts believe contributed to his loss of competitive sharpness. By the time he returned to Turkey to sign with Genclerbirligi, the explosive winger who once terrorized Belgian defenses had been replaced by a player struggling for rhythm and confidence.
A volatile career timeline
The volatility of Onyekuru’s career is best illustrated by the frequent shifts in his environment and the fluctuating levels of his productivity.
| Period | Club/League | Status/Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2017–2018 | KAS Eupen (Belgium) | Breakout season. 22 goals (Co-top scorer) |
| 2018–2019 | Everton/Anderlecht | €8m transfer; injury-hit loan spell |
| 2019–2023 | Galatasaray/Various | Multiple loans; intermittent success in Turkey |
| 2022–2024 | Al-Fayha (Saudi Arabia) | Two-year stint away from European football |
| 2024–Present | Genclerbirligi (Turkey) | Sidelined; training separately from squad |
The psychological toll of the ‘outcast’
In the world of professional sports, training away from the group is often a precursor to a permanent exit. For a player of Onyekuru’s pedigree, the psychological weight of being “put aside” by Volkan Demirel is significant. At 28, he is entering the peak years of a forward’s career, yet he finds himself fighting for the basic right to be in the dressing room.
The situation is complicated by the nature of his contract. With only one year remaining, Onyekuru lacks significant leverage. If he cannot reconcile his relationship with Demirel or produce a sudden surge in form, he risks becoming a free agent with a declining market value. The lack of goals—the primary currency of a striker—makes him an easy target for a coach under pressure to deliver results.
For those who followed his rise in Belgium, the current state of affairs is a cautionary tale about the fragility of momentum. The distance between being a league’s top scorer and being a persona non grata in a training camp is shorter than most imagine, often bridged by a few untimely injuries and a series of ill-fated transfers.
The immediate future for Onyekuru remains bleak. With no clear path back into the starting lineup and a coaching staff that has publicly distanced itself from him, the player faces a crossroads. He must either find a way to regain Demirel’s trust through grueling individual work or seek a mid-season exit to salvage what remains of his professional trajectory.
The next critical checkpoint will be the club’s next official squad registration and the upcoming transfer window, which will determine if Onyekuru remains a forgotten man in Turkey or finds a new environment to rediscover his form.
Do you experience Onyekuru can still return to his Belgian peak, or has the momentum shifted too far? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
