It seems the Roman chapter of El Dor Shomurodov’s career is coming to an end, as he prepares for new challenges in the Turkish Super League. According to reports, the leadership of AS Roma has concluded a prolonged process of employment for the Uzbek striker, finalizing his full transfer to Istanbul Basaksehir after a successful loan period. Meanwhile, the forward is fully regaining his value outside Serie A, climbing to second place in the league’s top scorers’ race with 17 goals and 5 assists. Based on data from analysts at Parimatch, we decided to investigate whether the attack leader is really leaving Rome for new horizons.
From Rome to the Bosphorus: Bridges Burned
Indeed, El Dor Shomurodov’s move from the ‘Giallorossi’ to Basaksehir has stopped being a theory. According to insider Nicolo Schira, the Turkish club offered the Uzbek a contract until 2028 as early as summer 2025. However, the deal was officially completed only in January 2026, when Istanbul Basaksehir activated the purchase option for the player for 2.7 million euros, which looks like a profitable investment given his current form.
- In 28 matches, the forward scored 16 goals and provided 4 assists;
- Overall, in all competitions, including the Turkish Cup, El Dor has 17 goals;
- His average scoring rate is 0.71 points (goal + assist) per game, with the majority being goals.
This performance allowed the Uzbek to secure second place in the league’s top scorers’ ranking, behind only the leading scorer Onuachu from Trabzonspor. It is clear that the Romans were right to retain the right to 10% of the next sale amount, clearly expecting his future growth.
Trust Crisis and Tactical Incompatibility
It all started like a fairy tale. Jose Mourinho, who coached Roma until 2024, fell in love with El Dor during the Asian Cup commentary, then personally met with the forward and took selfies as a memory. In the end, ‘Vulpecula’ paid 18 million euros for the Uzbek—serious money for a player from the Russian Premier League. But after love came a harsh hangover.
The main problem with Shomurodov in Rome was not weak technique, lack of talent, or insufficient speed. The problem was Tammy Abraham, for whom Roma paid Chelsea 40 million euros. The Englishman effectively guaranteed himself a starting position, pushing the Uzbek player into a secondary role.
Daniele De Rossi, and later Claudiu Rangieri, gave the forward more playing time, but now with the current coach, Gasperini, the Uzbek turned out to be ‘a detail from the wrong machine.’ The Italian coach made it clear that he is looking for a different type of finisher, effectively pushing El Dor out of the squad. But it’s better this way. Now, having shed the shackles of a substitute in Italy, the forward is once again proving his worth in the league, where his strengths are not lost in the shadow of system requirements and are valued much higher.
FAQ
What is El Dor Shomurodov’s current status with Roma?
El Dor Shomurodov has finalized his transfer from Roma to Istanbul Basaksehir after a successful loan period.
How did Shomurodov perform in the Turkish Super League?
In the 2025/26 season, Shomurodov scored 16 goals and provided 4 assists in 28 matches, placing him second in the league’s top scorers’ list.
Why did Shomurodov leave Roma?
Shomurodov faced limited playing time due to competition from Tammy Abraham and tactical incompatibility with the current Roma coach, leading to his move to Istanbul Basaksehir.
