Mert Hakan Yandaş (born 19 August 1994) is a Turkish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Süper Lig club Fenerbahçe.
Born in Bursa, he lost his father when he was only 9 years old. His father was also an amateur football player and in an interview, he said that he grew up in a family that loved football and that he promised his father to be a football player when he was little.[2]
He spent part of his youth in Bursa Güven and Yeşil Bursa and his first season as a senior in amateur football.[3] Mert Hakan made his first professional contract with Altınordu.
In the 2014–15 season, he loaned to Tire 1922. He made a very strong start with new coach Taha Evke in there and became one of the key players who took more responsibility on the field,[3] scored 13 goals in 25 TFF Third League matches. He signed with them a permanent contract for the 2015–16 season, where has been top goalscorer with 21 goals (in 34 matches) in 2015–16 TFF Third League season.[2]
In the 2016–17 season, he transferred to TFF Second League side Menemen Belediyespor where he played with Serkan Çalık, Erman Kılıç, Gökhan Ünal and İbrahim Dağaşan.[3]
Mert Hakan Yandaş joined Süper Lig side Sivasspor on 14 July 2017, after a couple successful seasons[3] in the lower Turkish leagues with Tirespor 1922 and Menemen Belediyespor.[4]
He made his professional debut for Sivasspor in a 2–0 Süper Lig win over Yeni Malatyaspor on 19 August 2017.[5] On 21 September 2017, he scored his first goal with the team against Bugsaşspor in a 3-0 win Turkish Cup match.
On 11 August 2020, he transferred to Süper Lig powerhouse Fenerbahçe on a free transfer, signed four years deal.[6] On 21 September 2020, he made his debut in a 0-0 tie against Hatayspor in 2020–21 Süper Lig season. On 21 November 2020, he scored his first goal against Gençlerbirliği in Süper Lig match, netting the first goal in a 5-1 away game victory.
In the 2021–22 season, he became vice-captain of the team after Altay Bayındır and Mesut Özil.[7]
On 16 September 2021, he made his continental debut in his career against Eintracht Frankfurt in UEFA Europa League away game which finished 1-1.[8]
On 4 November 2021, he captained first time of the team in UEFA Europa League match, 3-0 win against Royal Antwerp and also scored a goal from outside the box.[7]
On 23 August 2023, he made his 100th appearances in all competitions for Fenerbahçe against Twente in 5-1 UEFA Europa Conference League play-off round victory.[9]
On 21 June 2024, Fenerbahçe extended his contract for two years.[10]
On 16 February 2025, he made his 100th Süper Lig appearances for Fenerbahçe against Kasımpaşa in a 3-1 home win.[11][12]
Without any youth international experience, Yandaş made his debut with the Turkey national football team in a 1-0 UEFA Nations League loss to Hungary on 3 September 2020.[14]
Yandaş is a modern midfielder known for his strong passing and shots from outside the box. He is known for his good technique. He plays mainly as an attacking or a central midfielder but can also operate in several other positions and has been used as a deeper creative midfield position and on occasion, a box-to-box role, winger or second striker.[3] He is often described by pundits as modern day advanced playmakers due to his technique, skill, athleticism, work-rate off the ball, vision, crossing accuracy, wide range of passing, and powerful long-range shooting ability with either foot.[15]
His nickname is Commandante to his combative nature and dominance on the field.[16]
Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Yeşil Bursa | 2012–13 | TFF Third League | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 1 | ||
Altınordu | 2013–14 | TFF Second League | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | ||
Tire 1922 (loan) | 2014–15 | TFF Third League | 25 | 13 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 26 | 14 | ||
Tire 1922 | 2015–16 | TFF Third League | 34[a] | 21 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 21 | ||
Total | 59 | 34 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 62 | 35 | ||
Menemen Belediyespor | 2016–17 | TFF Second League | 35[b] | 12 | 7 | 4 | — | — | 42 | 16 | ||
Sivasspor | 2017–18 | Süper Lig | 22 | 1 | 4 | 2 | — | — | 26 | 3 | ||
2018–19 | Süper Lig | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[c] | 1 | 10 | 1 | ||
2019–20 | Süper Lig | 32 | 6 | 5 | 4 | — | — | 37 | 10 | |||
Total | 63 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 73 | 14 | ||
Fenerbahçe | 2020–21 | Süper Lig | 34 | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 4 | ||
2021–22 | Süper Lig | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7[d] | 2 | — | 33 | 2 | ||
2022–23 | Süper Lig | 15 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4[e] | 0 | — | 24 | 0 | ||
2023–24 | Süper Lig | 16 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 8[f] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 3 | |
2024–25 | Süper Lig | 13 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 11[g] | 0 | — | 27 | 1 | ||
2025–26 | Süper Lig | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
Total | 102 | 6 | 17 | 2 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 149 | 10 | ||
Career total | 280 | 60 | 36 | 13 | 30 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 347 | 76 |
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Turkey | |||
2020 | 1 | 0 | |
Total | 1 | 0 |