Samuel Ballet drives Amed SK to the top of the Süper Lig
Amed SK from the Kurdish province of Diyarbakır sits at the top of the Turkish Süper Lig after nine matchdays, after beating Samsunspor 2-1 on Saturday. At the centre of the success is the 25‑year‑old Swiss Samuel Ballet, who has been with the promoted side since August for €1.6 million.
Money flows to the stars
The big Istanbul clubs do not dominate the table; instead Amed SK has taken the lead. In the summer the Turkish clubs invested heavily, spending over €426 million. Three quarters of that sum went into the four prominent new signings.
Among the most expensive transfers are Victor Osimhen, who has been playing for Galatasaray since 2024, Mason Greenwood, who moved from Marseille to Fenerbahçe, Rafael Leão, who came from Milan to Galatasaray, and Dusan Vlahović, who transferred from Juventus to Beşiktaş. Mohamed Salah moved from Liverpool to Trabzonspor.
After nine matchdays Amed SK, promoted from the Kurdish province of Diyarbakır, leads the standings. The club won 2-1 at Samsunspor on Saturday and thereby secured first place. Alongside international players such as Alban Lafont, Gift Orban and Rayan Raveloson, the team defines the promotion.
Samuel Ballet's road to Amed
The 25‑year‑old Swiss Samuel Ballet has been under contract with Amed SK since August and wears the number 10 shirt, a sign of high expectations. In Switzerland he became known mainly for his spell at Winterthur from 2020 to 2024 and a loan stint at FCZ in the 2024/25 season. A brief attempt in the Italian Serie C with Como did not bring a breakthrough.
Last season he performed so strongly at Antalyaspor that Amed SK signed him for €1.6 million. Ballet stresses that his goal is not only club success but a place in the Swiss national team. “Playing for Switzerland and establishing myself in the squad is not a dream, but a goal,” he said confidently.
Whether his plan bears fruit could become evident as early as November 5, when national coach Murat Yakin announces the squad for the next Nations‑League round. A good performance in the Süper Lig could boost Ballet's chances of a call‑up.