AJ Auxerre captain Kévin Danois has rejected a concrete approach from Turkish club Besiktas this week. The 22-year-old homegrown midfielder, under contract until 2029, has no desire to leave Burgundy for Turkey.
Discussions were initiated by Besiktas, with talks taking place in Istanbul involving Dirk Hebel, a recruiter active for the Istanbul club this summer. Journalist Florian Plettenberg stated that "discussions took place in Istanbul around Kévin Danois, with Dirk Hebel at the helm". Hebel was involved in the arrivals of Leandro Trossard and Salih Özcan at Besiktas during the last transfer window. However, the French player was not convinced by the project.
Kévin Danois simply does not envisage leaving AJA at this stage of his career. The player is not interested in a transfer to Besiktas and does not plan to leave AJA for Turkey. His attachment to the club that developed him runs deep, and his role as captain, handed to him this summer, reinforces this desire to stay. Valued at around 20 million euros, the French U21 international is one of the crown jewels of the Auxerre squad and has also attracted interest from Premier League clubs.
Danois's loyalty is positive news for a club experiencing a tough start to the Ligue 1 season. AJA currently sits in 18th place in the championship, with zero points after three consecutive defeats. The record shows 4 goals scored and 11 conceded, a goal difference of -7. The team is already nine points behind leaders Monaco.
The team must bounce back quickly and the schedule offers a chance to do so at home. AJ Auxerre's next match is a home fixture against Nice on September 12, 2026. Nice are currently 15th, making this an important direct duel in the battle to avoid relegation. The confirmed presence of Kévin Danois, a cornerstone of the midfield, will be a major asset in the quest to secure the first points of the season in front of their fans.
The season is long and the transfer window is now closed. With their emblematic captain fully committed, AJ Auxerre can focus on the task ahead. The match against Nice at the Stade de l'Abbé-Deschamps is the first opportunity to reverse the current trend.
