Watford Loans Tom Dele-Bashiru, Elder Brother of Fisayo, to Gençlerbirliği

A former Nigeria U23 international, Tom Dele-Bashiru, has been loaned out by Championship club Watford to Turkish Super Lig side Gençlerbirliği SK for the remainder of the 2025–2026 season.

The deal was finalised before the close of the Turkish transfer window on Friday, 12 September.

Tom is the elder brother of Super Eagles midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.  Gençlerbirliği are seen to have pulled off a coup by securing his signature, having beaten off interest from Istanbul Başakşehir, Kocaelispor and Antalyaspor. Italian Serie A clubs Cremonese, Parma, Pisa and Bologna were also reportedly monitoring the player.

Since joining Watford (‘the Hornets’) from Manchester City in the summer of 2019, the 25 year old midfielder has scored eight goals and provided four assists.  His breakthrough season came in 2023–2024, when he made 38 appearances for Watford.  This season, however, Tom has featured just twice once in the Championship against Queens Park Rangers and once in the Carabao Cup first round against Norwich City.

Dele-Bashiru remains under contract with Watford until 30 June 2026, and the club retains the option to extend his deal by one additional year. Meanwhile, his new club Gençlerbirliği find themselves at the foot of the Super Lig table, having failed to pick up a point after four matches as they prepare to face Rizespor on Monday.

Editorial

The loan of Tom Dele-Bashiru to Gençlerbirliği presents a compelling narrative about the career trajectories of Nigerian footballers and the often unpredictable nature of professional football. We view this move through two primary lenses potential opportunity and inherent risk.

On the optimistic side, Tom’s move to Turkey offers him much-needed playing time and a fresh environment in which to revitalise his career. After a promising spell at Watford, particularly his 38 appearances in the 2023–2024 season, a change of scenery could inject fresh energy into his development and reignite the trajectory that once promised so much. The Turkish Super Lig remains a competitive league, and performing well there could rekindle interest from higher-tier European clubs or earn him renewed attention from national team selectors.

Yet, the risk is palpable. Gençlerbirliği’s current standing at the bottom of the Super Lig poses a challenging backdrop. Playing for a struggling side can hamper a player’s visibility and morale, making it harder to shine even for those with talent. Additionally, adapting to a new league, culture, and tactical system midway through a season is seldom straightforward. For a player who has featured sparingly this season, the pressure to perform immediately may weigh heavily.

This move underscores broader systemic issues. Nigerian footballers often confront significant obstacles when moving abroad: inconsistent playing time, lack of stable support networks, and the risk of stagnation in foreign leagues. Watford’s decision to loan Tom out, rather than continue integrating him into their squad, raises questions about long-term planning and player development especially for African talents who may need more stability to reach their potential.

Nevertheless, we remain hopeful. At 25, Tom is still at an age where he can rebound, grow, and possibly emerge stronger from this challenge. The key will be whether Gençlerbirliği give him consistent minutes and whether Tom can seize this opportunity to demonstrate his resilience and quality.

If he manages to do so, this loan might well become a turning point one that repositions him back on a path toward prominence. If not, it may serve as a cautionary tale about how promising careers can stall when players move into uncertain situations abroad.

We firmly believe that Tom has the ability to make this move count and that his success would not only benefit him but also shine a light on the need for better support structures for Nigerian players abroad. We are rooting for him to make the most of this opportunity, because that would validate the gamble inherent in this kind of loan.

Did You Know?

1. Gençlerbirliği SK is based in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, and has a reputation for developing young talent.
2. Tom Dele-Bashiru made his senior debut for Watford in 2021 after rising through their ranks following his move from Manchester City.
3. His brother, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, was born in Manchester and has represented Nigeria at youth international levels before switching allegiance to the Super Eagles.
4. Tom was once eligible to represent both England and Nigeria, but opted to play for Nigeria at youth level.
5. Before his move to Watford, Tom spent several years in Manchester City’s youth academy, which is known for producing technically proficient midfielders.