The 2023/2034 season was definitely one which will linger in the memory of Fernabahçe defender Bright Osayi-Samuel.
Osayi’s side had to suffer a late heartbreak, losing out on the Türkish Super Lig, just three points behind champions Galatasaray.
He also featured in the fans attack at Trabzonspor but was spared a ban for hitting back at his assailant.
Osayi was consistent in his performance in the Super Lig, Europa Conference League and Turkish Cup games, appearing 39 times and churning out good defensive performances week in, week out and even finding the back of the net four times.
In the Turkish top flight, Bright played 23 games spamming across 1,744 minutes, creating two goals and netting four of his, overall.
The 26-year-old was also involved in 15 matches in the UEFA Europa Conference League, taking his side into the final with two goals and scoring in the quarterfinal against Olympiacos with 1,240 minutes played in the newly created competition.
Defensively, Osayi has been very stable, with his side conceding just 16 when he is involved, recording 11 clean sheets with 109 minutes per goal conceded.
He made 37 tackles and 15 interceptions, winning 108 out of 183 ground duels contested and 13 aerial duels.
Osayi-Samuel was only dribbled past eight times during the just-concluded season.
He also made 28 clearances and blocked two shots.
Attacking wise, he was not too poor, with five league goal involvements, completing 529 out of 600 passes with an excellent pass accuracy of 88.17% and eight key passes.
Osayi also attempted 11 crosses with a completion rate of 36.36% and 1744 minutes per assist, but a shot conversion rate of 75%.
For the Super Eagles, Osayi was an active part of the squad that settled for beaten finalists at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, with five involvements in the seven matches at the completion, but with no goals or assists.
He was also rewarded with a call-up to the national team for the recent 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic by Finidi George.
