Former Germany, Real Madrid, and Arsenal star Mesut Ozil was elected to Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) central council on February 23, 2025.
The announcement came during a congress in Ankara, where President Recep Tayyip Erdogan secured his ninth term leading the party, which has been in power since 2002.
Alman Milli Takımı Eski Kaptanı Mesut Özil, AKP’ye katıldı. pic.twitter.com/UH6Bs7IHD6
— Abluka (@ajansAbluka) February 23, 2025The 2014 World Cup winner, who retired in 2023 after playing in Istanbul, has long supported Erdogan. In 2019, he chose the Turkish leader as his best man for his wedding to ex-Miss Turkey Amine Glse. Ozil’s German-born roots and Turkish heritage have shaped his controversial career shift.
Mesut Özil får en officiell roll i Recep Tayyip Erdoğans regeringsparti AKP.
Förvånande?
Inför EM skrev Offside ett reportage om spelgeniet som aldrig blev den ikon Tyskland hoppades. Gåtan Mesut Özil fortsätter.https://t.co/ZYlUh43uBT pic.twitter.com/rEY2aaVW33
— Fotbollsmagasinet Offside (@MagasinOffside) February 24, 2025A 2018 photo with Erdogan and teammate Ilkay Guendogan sparked backlash. Germany’s far-right criticized Ozil, while Berlin accused Erdogan of authoritarianism. Ozil quit the German national team, alleging racism by the German Football Association (DFB). In a fiery four-page statement, he slammed DFB president Reinhard Grindel, writing, “I’m German when we win, an immigrant when we lose.”
Once a symbol of multicultural Germany, Ozil’s AKP role marks a pivot to Turkish politics, aligning with his Erdogan loyalty amid lingering debates over identity and allegiance.
 central council on February 23, 2025.){kind=link}