Kelechi Iheanacho made an impressive start to life at Bursaspor on Sunday, scoring and providing an assist as the Turkish club opened their 2026/27 TFF 1. Lig campaign with a 2-0 away victory over Bodrum.
The Nigerian striker wasted little time announcing his arrival, opening the scoring in the 27th minute with a composed finish to put Bursaspor ahead.
Iheanacho continued to influence the game and turned provider before half-time, setting up a teammate for Bursaspor’s second goal as the visitors established a comfortable advantage.
The 2-0 victory gives Bursaspor an early boost in their promotion campaign, with the club targeting an immediate return to the Süper Lig after recently climbing from the third tier.
For Iheanacho, the performance represents an encouraging beginning to a new chapter in Turkey.
The 29-year-old joined Bursaspor as a free agent in July, signing a three-year contract after leaving Celtic, where he spent last season on loan.
Despite an injury-affected campaign, Iheanacho contributed nine goals and helped the Scottish giants secure a domestic double. Talks over a permanent move to Glasgow ultimately broke down, paving the way for his switch to Bursaspor.
The former Manchester City and Leicester City forward was attracted to Bursaspor by the club’s ambitious plans, with the Turkish side openly targeting promotion to the top flight and eventually European football.
Bursaspor have made no secret of their desire to return to the Süper Lig, and Iheanacho’s experience at the highest level is expected to play an important role in that pursuit.
His immediate impact against Bodrum will therefore be particularly encouraging for the club, with the Nigerian demonstrating both his finishing ability and creativity in his first competitive appearance.
Bursaspor also impressed defensively, keeping a clean sheet away from home to begin the season with maximum points.
The focus will now turn to whether Iheanacho can maintain his early momentum and help Bursaspor mount a serious promotion challenge as the Turkish second-tier campaign progresses.
