Hull City owner Acun Ilicali voiced deep frustration over false transfer claims, using a social media post to detail 11 ongoing player negotiations. The Tigers are actively rebuilding their squad following promotion to the Premier League, securing three new signings while targeting international additions ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Fresh off securing promotion to the top flight after a nine-year absence, Hull City find themselves battling both on-field preparations and off-field speculation. Following the club’s victory in the Championship play-off final in May, owner Acun Ilicali took the unusual step of addressing supporters directly to clear up persistent rumors surrounding the club’s summer transfer activity.
Acun Ilicali Details Ongoing Deals and Dismisses Rumors
Taking to social media to address the fanbase, Ilicali pulled back the curtain on the club’s recruitment strategy. The owner published a breakdown of 11 different transfer pursuits, attaching country flags and percentage completion markers alongside them to indicate how close each deal is to crossing the finish line.
“We are reading dozens of false transfer rumours in many places. We are disturbed by the claims that we have been rejected and by the use of our club’s name to gain attention. We have been working intensively for two months.”
Acun Ilicali, Owner, Hull City
That frustration prompted the unprecedented transparency. Ilicali noted that the club refuses to let outside noise distract from their intensive two-month recruitment push. The owner’s cryptic numbered list offered clear clues regarding the players on the club’s radar, matching flags and percentages to specific international targets.
New Signings Confirmed as Squad Preparations Intensify
While negotiations continue behind the scenes, Hull have already solidified key areas of the pitch. The club has officially brought in goalkeeper Jack Butland from Rangers, midfielder Oscar Zambrano from Maribor, and defender Matt Targett following his departure from Newcastle United. Targett’s arrival on Thursday morning marked the club’s third official signing of the summer window.
The recruitment drive shows no signs of slowing down as the squad prepares for the 2026-27 top-flight campaign. BBC Radio Humberside sports editor Mike White reported that the Tigers have agreed a deal to secure free agent midfielder Hidemasa Morita, with the Japan international expected to arrive in Slovenia in the next 48 hours.
Financial Strength and Record Transfer Targets on the Horizon
To fund the transition into the Premier League, Ilicali confirmed that the club recently secured a £55m bridging loan. This financial maneuvering aims to maintain a strong financial position
while completing high-value transfers.
Among the pending negotiations, Hull remain in discussions with French side Auxerre regarding a deal for Kevin Danois. Completing that transfer would almost certainly establish a new club record, surpassing the £13.2m fee paid to Tottenham Hotspur in 2016 for Ryan Mason.
At the same time, the club continues to pursue Olympiakos goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis—a deal Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic indicated was nearing completion earlier this month—alongside discussions for Swedish wing-back Elliot Stroud and Orlando City player Marco Palasic. However, the club has drawn a firm line on wage structures, ruling out a move for Rennes and Switzerland striker Breel Embolo due to wage demands that would shatter the club’s financial limits.
Sources: bbc.co.uk.
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