Kaan Ayhan has quietly built one of the more durable careers of his generation among Turkish-German footballers.
This article breaks down his estimated net worth, his current Galatasaray contract, annual salary, career earnings by year, and everything else you need to know about his financial profile.
Kaan Ayhan’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kaan Ayhan |
| Date of Birth | November 10, 1994 |
| Age | 31 |
| Place of Birth | Gelsenkirchen, Germany |
| Nationality | Turkish / German |
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) |
| Weight | 84 kg (185 lb) |
| Position | Defender (Centre-back, Defensive Midfielder, Right-back) |
| Current Club | Galatasaray (Süper Lig) |
| Shirt Number | 23 |
| Turned Professional | 2013 |
| Net Worth | ~$6 Million (estimated) |
| Annual Salary | ~€1.88 Million (approx. $2M USD) |
| Contract Expiry | June 30, 2028 |
| Wife | Aylin Betül Ayhan (née Cengiz) |
| Children | 2 |
Early Life and Career
Kaan Ayhan was born on November 10, 1994, in Gelsenkirchen, the industrial heartland of western Germany and a city synonymous with FC Schalke 04.
His family has roots in Turkey — his mother’s side from Trabzon Maçka and his father’s side from Iğdır — but Kaan grew up entirely in Germany, shaped by both cultures.
He joined Schalke 04’s youth academy at the age of four or five, spending more than a decade developing through every age group the club had to offer.
By 2009, he was representing Schalke 07’s U17 side, and he quickly progressed into the U19 squad the following season.
In the 2011–12 youth season, Ayhan was part of a Schalke side that won the German youth championship, with the team beating Bayern Munich 2–1 in the final — Ayhan played the full 90 minutes and contributed an assist.
On January 18, 2012, Schalke 04 handed him his first professional contract, running until June 30, 2015. He was assigned the number 24 shirt for the senior setup.
His trajectory was clear from an early age: a technically composed defender comfortable operating across multiple positions.
His younger brother Mertcan Ayhan is also a professional footballer, currently playing for Schalke 04 in the 2. Bundesliga.
Their uncle, the retired goalkeeper Saffet Kaya, also had a professional career in Turkish football, making theirs genuinely a football family.
Professional Career
Kaan Ayhan made his senior professional debut on October 5, 2013, coming off the bench for Ádám Szalai as Schalke beat FC Augsburg 4–1 in the Bundesliga.
Less than seven months later, on May 3, 2014, he scored his first Bundesliga goal — opening the scoring in the 13th minute of a 2–0 victory at SC Freiburg.
He spent three seasons in the Schalke 04 first team before joining Eintracht Frankfurt on loan in January 2016. That summer, he made a permanent move to Fortuna Düsseldorf for a reported fee of €500,000.
It proved a significant step: Ayhan became a key figure in Düsseldorf’s promotion campaign, helping them win the 2. Bundesliga title and return to the top flight.
He spent four productive seasons there, earning consistent recognition as one of the better defenders in that division.
In August 2020, he moved to Serie A side Sassuolo for a fee of approximately €2.66 million, according to his Transfermarkt profile.
He made his mark in Italy, and in January 2023, Galatasaray brought him back to Turkey on an initial loan. The deal became permanent in the summer of 2023 for around €2.8 million.
At Galatasaray, Ayhan has won back-to-back Süper Lig titles, adding to the championship culture at the Istanbul club. He has made over 450 career appearances across all levels of European football, accumulating trophies in both Germany and Turkey.
On the international stage, Ayhan committed to Turkey after representing Germany at youth level through U16, U17, and U18.
He earned his first senior Turkey cap on August 31, 2016, in a friendly against Russia, and has gone on to represent the Crescent Stars across qualifying campaigns and tournaments.
Wife
Kaan Ayhan married Aylin Betül Cengiz on November 26, 2018. The wedding was held in Essen, Germany, attended by over 500 guests including teammates, family, and close friends, and conducted according to Turkish traditions.
In an interview, Ayhan mentioned that he and Aylin met during their school years and maintained a long friendship before getting together.
The couple have two children. Their son, Karan, was born in 2022. The couple maintains a notably private family life, rarely sharing details publicly, which reflects their deliberate choice to keep their children away from media attention.
Kaan Ayhan’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Kaan Ayhan’s has an estimated net worth of approximately $6 million.
He built this wealth through over a decade of professional football contracts across Germany, Italy, and Turkey. His earnings accelerated significantly after his move to Galatasaray, where his salary more than doubled compared to his Sassuolo years.
Contract
Kaan Ayhan’s current contract with Galatasaray runs until June 30, 2028. The deal was extended on April 30, 2025 — confirming the club’s confidence in him as a squad cornerstone at age 30.
He signed the original deal on July 1, 2023, following his permanent transfer from Sassuolo for €2.8 million.
His contract extension locks him into the Süper Lig for three additional years and coincides with Galatasaray’s continued dominance in Turkish football.
The club retains him as a versatile defensive option capable of playing centre-back, defensive midfield, or right-back.
Salary
According to data tracked by Capology, Kaan Ayhan earns an estimated €1.88 million gross per year at Galatasaray — equivalent to roughly €36,000 per week.
This represents a significant jump from the €800,000 he earned in his first full season at the club (2023–24) following the loan period.
His current wage places him in the middle tier of Galatasaray’s squad salary structure. The club’s top earner, Victor Osimhen, commands around €18.7 million annually, so Ayhan operates as a reliable, cost-effective defensive option relative to the club’s star players.
At his peak earning seasons in Turkey (2024–25 and 2025–26), he is earning more than at any previous point in his career.
Career Earnings By Year
| Season | Club | Estimated Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 2013–14 | Schalke 04 | €420,000 |
| 2014–15 | Schalke 04 | €370,000 |
| 2015–16 | Schalke 04 | €350,000 |
| 2018–19 | Fortuna Düsseldorf | €600,000 |
| 2019–20 | Fortuna Düsseldorf | €900,000 |
| 2020–21 | Sassuolo | €770,000 |
| 2021–22 | Sassuolo | €770,000 |
| 2022–23 | Sassuolo | €600,000 |
| 2023–24 | Galatasaray | €800,000 |
| 2024–25 | Galatasaray | €1,880,000 |
| 2025–26 | Galatasaray | €1,880,000 |
Career Statistics
| Season | Club | Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–14 | Schalke 04 | Bundesliga | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| 2014–15 | Schalke 04 | Bundesliga | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015–16 | Schalke 04 | Bundesliga | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016–17 | Fortuna Düsseldorf | 2. Bundesliga | 27 | 1 | 2 |
| 2017–18 | Fortuna Düsseldorf | 2. Bundesliga | 31 | 3 | 2 |
| 2018–19 | Fortuna Düsseldorf | Bundesliga | 29 | 1 | 1 |
| 2019–20 | Fortuna Düsseldorf | Bundesliga | 26 | 2 | 0 |
| 2020–21 | Sassuolo | Serie A | 31 | 2 | 1 |
| 2021–22 | Sassuolo | Serie A | 26 | 1 | 1 |
| 2022–23 | Sassuolo | Serie A | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023–24 | Galatasaray | Süper Lig | 22 | 1 | 1 |
| 2024–25 | Galatasaray | Süper Lig | 28 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025–26 | Galatasaray | Süper Lig | 18 | 1 | 0 |
FAQs
What is Kaan Ayhan’s net worth?
Kaan Ayhan’s estimated net worth is approximately $6 million. He built this through professional contracts at Schalke 04, Fortuna Düsseldorf, Sassuolo, and currently Galatasaray.
How much does Kaan Ayhan earn per year at Galatasaray?
He earns an estimated €1.88 million gross per year at Galatasaray, equivalent to roughly €36,000 per week. His contract runs until June 30, 2028.
When did Kaan Ayhan join Galatasaray permanently?
Galatasaray signed him permanently in the summer of 2023 after an initial loan in January 2023. He joined from Sassuolo for a reported transfer fee of €2.8 million.
Is Kaan Ayhan married?
Yes, Kaan Ayhan married Aylin Betül Cengiz on November 26, 2018, in Essen, Germany. The couple has two children, including a son named Karan, born in 2022.
What trophies has Kaan Ayhan won?
He has won three Süper Lig titles with Galatasaray, one 2. Bundesliga championship with Fortuna Düsseldorf (2018), and one Turkish Cup. His career has spanned four countries across more than a decade.
