Karlsruhe loses Öztürk, who moves to Lok Leipzig instead
21-Year-Old Talent Eren Öztürk Joins 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig
Eren Öztürk, a 21-year-old offensive midfield player with Turkish roots, has left Karlsruher SC (KSC) and joined 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig in the Regionalliga Nordost.
Born in Wiesloch, Baden-Württemberg, Öztürk developed through the KSC youth academy for nine years and signed his first professional contract with the club. Despite two brief appearances in the 2. Bundesliga for KSC in the 2023/24 season, he did not break through to the first team.
Last season, Öztürk was loaned out to Regionalliga Nordost club VSG Altglienicke, where he performed well with 33 appearances, scoring 4 goals and providing 4 assists. He is also a Turkish youth international, having played for Turkey's U18 and U20 teams.
KSC's sporting director, Mario Eggimann, has expressed his support for Öztürk's move to Leipzig, stating that it is beneficial for the young player's career progression. The move to Leipzig is expected to provide him with more experience in the men's division.
Öztürk has signed a contract with 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig until June 30, 2027, and will wear jersey number 30. KSC secured a buy-back option as part of the deal.
Since his move to Lokomotive Leipzig was officially announced on August 7, 2025, there are no recorded match performances yet for his tenure at the new club. However, the club's sporting director has highlighted Öztürk’s previous good performances in Regionalliga and expressed high expectations for his contribution. Öztürk himself expressed excitement to join the team and to compete in their upcoming matches.
In summary, Öztürk is regarded as a promising young player moving to 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig to establish himself further in senior competitive football after limited first-team chances at Karlsruhe. The move to Leipzig will allow him to prove himself at a higher level in the Regionalliga Nordost.
Eren Öztürk's transfer to 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig presents an opportunity for him to showcase his skills in European leagues, specifically in the Regionalliga Nordost. As a promising talent, Öztürk hopes to compete in the higher level football by playing football in Serie A, one of the European-leagues, in the future.
