Anthony Dennis to Al Jazira – Breakdown of €5m transfer, duration & more

Nigerian midfielder Anthony Dennis has completed his transfer to United Arab Emirates club Al Jazira, Afrik-Foot reports.

​Throughout this summer, Dennis’ future has hung in the balance. He joined Göztepe in 2023, but since last year, he has been linked with several clubs. Last summer, an Anderlecht switch was on the cards, but it ultimately fell through.

​Göztepe tried to keep him by offering a contract extension, but the 22-year-old rejected the offer.

​Heading into the new season, Dennis had just one year left on his contract. His Turkish employers knew they had to sell him this summer or risk losing him on a free transfer next year.

​Coventry City were first linked with him at the beginning of the summer; however, they decided against pursuing the deal. A few Bundesliga clubs were also in the mix, but nothing concrete materialized from those talks.

​Belgian side Anderlecht reportedly returned with a bid, but it was significantly lower than Göztepe’s valuation of the player.

On Sunday evening, news broke that Dennis had completed a transfer to UAE club Al Jazira. The negotiations progressed swiftly, as initial links only surfaced last week.

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رسمياً: #فخر_أبوظبي يكمل إجراءات التعاقد مع لاعب الوسط الشاب أنتوني دينيس ويقيده ضمن فئة المقيمين.#نادي_الجزيرة pic.twitter.com/MJioivghFs

— نادي الجزيرة (@aljazirafc) August 23, 2026

​Below is a breakdown of the transfer and all the key details.

​Breakdown of Dennis’ Al Jazira Transfer

​Anthony Dennis completed his transfer to Al Jazira on Sunday night. The club finished fourth in the UAE top flight last season, ending the campaign 24 points behind eventual champions Al Ain.

​The last time they lifted the league title was in 2021, making the signing of Dennis a clear statement of intent as they aim to challenge for silverware once again.

​They paid Göztepe €5 million to secure the Nigerian on a three-year contract, keeping him at the club until at least 2029. With this move, he becomes the sixth African and the sole Nigerian player in the squad.

​How Much Is Anthony Dennis’ Salary?

​During his time at Göztepe, Dennis earned a gross salary of €140,000 per year — roughly €2,200 per week. Compared to standard wages in major leagues, this was relatively low.

​Following his move to the UAE, he is set to earn around €5 million per year. That represents more than a 40-fold increase over his previous earnings in Turkey.

​This dramatic pay rise provides clear context for Dennis’ decision to head to the Middle East. Under the terms of his new contract, he will pocket just over €96,000 per week — a truly life-changing sum.

​The defensive midfielder will wear the number 30 shirt and is expected to play a pivotal role as Al Jazira push for the league title this season.

​The UAE Pro League recently kicked off, and Al Jazira have already won their opening two matches of the campaign.