Enes Ünal Returns to Getafe After Bournemouth Spell

Enes Ünal has ended his brief Premier League chapter and is heading back to familiar ground, rejoining Getafe from Bournemouth on a free transfer.

The 29-year-old Turkey international returns to the Madrid club with a deal that still protects Bournemouth’s interests. The Cherries could bank up to £1.3m in bonuses and have secured a 20% sell-on clause for any future move.

Ünal’s time on the south coast never truly caught fire. Injuries disrupted his rhythm and limited his impact, leaving him with 58 appearances and five goals in all competitions. For a player brought in to add cutting edge, it was a stop-start spell that never quite matched the expectation or the £13m fee Bournemouth paid to make his initial loan from Getafe permanent in 2024.

He had arrived that January on loan, viewed as a low-risk opportunity to test his fitness and form in England. Bournemouth saw enough to commit to a full transfer later that year, but the physical setbacks persisted and the squad evolved around him.

Inside the dressing room, though, Ünal clearly made his mark. Bournemouth described him as “a popular figure within the squad” and praised the “positive contribution both on and off the pitch” in their farewell statement, adding their thanks and wishing him “every success for the future.”

The move also fits a wider theme at the Vitality Stadium. Bournemouth have been trimming their wage bill and reshaping the squad, and Ünal’s departure eases the financial load while keeping a potential upside if he rebuilds his value in La Liga.

Next Steps

Attention now turns to the next outgoing. With Bournemouth said to be close to wrapping up their summer business, the club are working on a deal that would see full-back Max Aarons leave. One forward has gone, a defender may follow. The squad that starts the new season will look leaner, and very different, to the one that welcomed Ünal just 18 months ago.