As we have already written about the information that emerged in Turkey in recent days regarding Georgi Tatarov's transfer to Galatasaray, today the transfer is already official. The Turkish grand club Galatasaray HDI Sigorta signed the Bulgarian outside hitter Georgi Tatarov until the end of the season. The Istanbul club announced the signing of the contract with the 22-year-old national team player, who will complete the campaign in the Turkish league.
Initially, the news was spread on the social network X by the Starting Six profile and caused a serious discussion among the fans of the "yellow-reds". Now it has official confirmation.
The timing of the transfer
Tatarov started the 2025/2026 season in the Italian Superlega with the Yuasa Battery Grottazzolina team. The team has one more match until the end of the regular season, after which it will be relegated to Serie A2.
Grottazzolina's last match is on February 25 as a guest against Perugia, after which the Bulgarian had to travel to Turkey to finalize his transfer to Galatasaray.
The earliest opportunity for him to debut for his new team is on March 1, during the away match against Spor Toto.
The situation at Galatasaray
Galatasaray currently ranks third in the Turkish championship and is fighting for medals. The Olympic champion from Paris 2024, Jean Patry, stands out in the squad as the team's main offensive figure. Canadian international Stephen Maar is also part of the team.
Last season, Bulgarian outside hitter Martin Atanasov also played for the squad, which makes Tatarov's signing a logical continuation of the club's policy to work with young athletes from the Balkans.
Reactions on social media were mixed – from moderate optimism to skepticism, with some fans expecting a more established name. At the same time, however, Tatarov's sporting and technical profile suggests that he can provide depth in reception and stability in the attack-defense transition phase.
Career development and the logic behind the move
Georgi Tatarov's career has developed dynamically. After starting at CSKA Sofia, he played for Turkish Altekma, French Narbonne, and spent two seasons in the Italian Superlega with Grottazzolina. In four seasons abroad, he gained experience in three different leagues, which speaks to his adaptability and ambition for a higher competitive level.
His time in Italy improved his tactical discipline and his off-ball play. His return to Turkey does not seem like a step backward, but rather a strategic move – instead of staying with a relegated team, he is moving to a team with ambitions for a podium finish.
For Tatarov, this is an opportunity to get a clearer role in a squad that is fighting for medals, and for Galatasaray – an investment in a young, already internationally experienced outside hitter.
photos: Nikolay Varadinov
