Tanzanian striker Mbwana Samatta left Aston Villa to join Turkish club Fenerbahce less than a year after joining the English Premier League club.
Samatta had been signed from Belgian side KRC Genk in January on a four-and-a-half year deal for a reported £10 million fee.
“Ally Samatta has joined Turkish side Fenerbahce,” Villa said in a statement on its website. “We would like to wish Ally all the best.”
Reports suggest the Tanzanian, who had not played in any of Aston Villa’s games this season so far, will join Fenerbahce on a one-year loan deal with the option to buy at the end of the season.
Goal reported that Samatta was in Istanbul on Thursday to undergo a medical and finalise his move to Turkey.
Samatta made history by becoming the first Tanzanian player to both play and score in the Premier League.
He, however, struggled to adapt to the English game and strengthen Villa’s threat in front of goal scoring just twice in 16 games. Those two goals came during his Premier League debut in a defeat at AFC Bournemouth and the Carabao Cup final which also ended in defeat to Manchester City.
To address that problem, which nearly led to their relegation last season, Villa signed Burkina Faso international Bertrand Traoré from French club Lyon for an undisclosed fee.
Traoré, 25, previously played for Ajax Amsterdam and fellow Premier League club Chelsea. He marked his debut with a goal in a 3-0 win against Bristol City in the Carabao Cup third round on Thursday.
