From Flying Kiwis. Champness already in Turkey. Mods can you please update his club.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1428374928072577027JOWIC on the move! Fresh from swapping international allegiances to the nation of his birth and representing the OlyWhites at the Olympics, it’s off to Turkey for Joseph Champness. Which is a funky one because his club stuff has been very weird for a couple years. Ever since he left the Newcastle Jets to spend a year in Los Angeles chasing his hip hop dreams.
The story goes like this: when Champness returned to Oz, the Jets believed they had his contract rights until 2022, which was when his previous deal was due to expire, but Champness lived in Brisbane and was stuck there during the pandemic and ultimately signed with the Roar... to the complaints of Jets officials. Eventually it was arranged that he’d play for Brisbane on loan, which he did, but the same confusion was threatening to emerge this season as Champness still hadn’t reported for preseason. Even after fellow NZ Olympian and new Jets signing Dane Ingham had done so, Champness still hadn’t. Word was he wanted to wrangle another stint with the Roar however the Jets weren’t having that. With one year left on his contract, they said if you’re playing A-League then you’re playing for us... but we will sell you overseas if it happens. And it has. Finally everyone’s happy.
Giresunspor just got promoted back to the top flight in Turkey after finishing second in the second tier last time, losing 2-0 to Galatasaray in their first game at this level since 1977. But hopes aren’t too high for them to stay there. Player turnover has been huge with 16 new players signing for the club and almost that many moving out. They’re favourites to go back down... but JOWIC may have something to say about that. He’s signed on a two year contract with an option for a third (Giresunspor have also reportedly added Aussie international Aziz Behich on loan too).
And, of course, as someone who switched allegiances to represent New Zealand he’ll come up against a fella who switched allegiances away from Aotearoa in USA international Tyler Boyd in the Süper Lig. Not at Besiktas though. Boyd fell out of favour there last season, surprisingly cut from their squad registration list entirely for the first half of the season. He did eventually come back into the mix for four starts with a goal but then went and played on loan with Sivasspor from February until the end of the campaign... scoring 5 goals in 14 appearances. The manager listed him as a fella who wasn’t in the plans moving forward during the offseason hence he wasn’t in the squad for the opening weekend fixture. But never fear because he’s wiggled his way over to Çaykur Rizespor on loan.
Up Next: Giresunspor vs Trabzonspor, Monday at 6.45am (NZT)