Former Germany international Mesut Ozil has shifted his focus to politics by joining Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s party.
The ex-Real Madrid and Arsenal midfielder was appointed to the ruling AK Party’s Central Decision and Management Board at a party congress.
Of Turkish descent, Ozil faced criticism later in his career due to his relationship with Erdogan.
This ultimately led to his retirement from the German national team in 2018 and from professional football in 2023 after a controversial photo of him meeting Erdogan in London.
Ozil’s support for Erdogan’s policies and calls for his election have further sparked debate. Erdogan even attended the player’s wedding in Turkey in 2019.
The two were last seen together during a match between the Netherlands and Turkey in 2024, sharing a seat.
