Zeki Yavru

Zeki Yavru — Biography

Zeki Yavru is a 1.79-metre right back who grew up in his hometown of Trabzon, broke through at Trabzonspor and later became captain of Samsunspor. He played at Samsunspor from 2022 until the summer of 2026, and as captain he lived through a spell that ran from a 1. Lig title to European competition.

He started playing in 2002 at Trabzon Telekomspor and in 2007 joined the Trabzonspor academy, where his father also worked. In 2010-11 and 2011-12 he was loaned to 1461 Trabzon, scoring 7 goals in 27 matches in the second season. He made his Süper Lig debut against Sivasspor on 16 September 2012 and played his first derby against Galatasaray on 18 May 2013. The same year he was called up to Turkey's A2 national team and won two caps. In August 2015 he was loaned to Kayserispor. A goal from about 30 metres in a friendly in October 2012 was one of the moments that secured his place at Trabzonspor.

The Samsunspor years were the peak of his career: he won the 2022-23 1. Lig title with the club and helped it finish third in the Süper Lig in 2024-25 and reach the UEFA Europa League play-off round. On 31 August 2025, in the Black Sea derby, he made his 100th official appearance for the club, and he played 136 matches in total. In November 2025 a gesture he made during a European match drew wide press attention. When his contract expired at the end of 2025-26 he left Samsunspor.