Doğucan Haspolat

Doğucan Haspolat — Biography

Doğucan Haspolat is a midfielder who came up in the Netherlands and chose to play for Turkey. He first became known for reaching the Eredivisie at a very young age, went on to play for Kasımpaşa and Trabzonspor in the Süper Lig, and since September 2023 has played for Westerlo in Belgium.

Born in Rotterdam, he joined Excelsior's academy at five and, after playing in various age groups, was added to the first-team squad in 2016. On 27 August 2016, aged 16, he came on in the 70th minute against Feyenoord in place of Kevin Vermeulen and became the first player born in 2000 to appear in the Eredivisie. In 2017-18 he played 270 minutes across seven league matches; in 2018-19 he appeared in fourteen. In January 2020 he signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Kasımpaşa and made his Süper Lig debut against Trabzonspor on 19 January. In June 2022 Trabzonspor brought him in on a three-year deal, and with them he won the 2022 Turkish Super Cup.

On 6 September 2023 he signed a four-year contract with Belgian Pro League side Westerlo. After playing for the Netherlands at youth level he switched to Turkey; around the time of the move to Westerlo he said his goal was to play for the Turkey senior national team.