Noa Lang To Galatasaray Now Imminent As Sunderland And Leeds Set To Miss Out
Noa Lang is set to end his Napoli spell after just six months.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Updated on 21 January 2026
Galatasaray are pushing to finalise a deal for Napoli winger Noa Lang, with Sunderland and Leeds United set to miss out.
Talks have accelerated in recent days, and Lang is being described as one of Napoli’s most likely departures before the window closes.
Sunderland and Leeds have both been linked with a move for the Netherlands international, as Per Italian outlet Il Mattino.
However, the Turkish champions now appear to have taken control of negotiations with Lang.
Speculation around Lang and Galatasaray has now reached the point where an agreement is being described as close.
Galatasaray close to Napoli agreement for Noa Lang as Sunderland miss out
Tuttomercatoweb report Galatasaray could potentially get the deal done ‘today’, with the winger ready to leave Napoli after just six months.
The Istanbul club are said to have made a decisive move, with the total package approaching €30m including bonuses.
The same report adds Lang has already shown willingness to join Galatasaray, paving the way for the move to Istanbul.
Lang suffered an ankle knock in the Champions League draw with Copenhagen, but it doesn’t seem to have thwarted the move.
Journalist Gino Di Resta has reported that, despite awaiting test results for the ankle issue, Galatarasaray now awaits for Lang.
“In a few days, medical tests and contract signing with his new team,” Di Resta wrote on X.
In attesa dell’esito degli esami strumentali per il trauma distorsivo alla caviglia Noa Lang é ormai vicino al trasferimento in Turchia dove l’attende il Galatasaray di Osimhen.
Tra qualche giorno visite mediche e firma del contratto con la nuova squadra. pic.twitter.com/XdcTlhd0Yb— Gino Di Resta (@GinoDIRESTA) January 21, 2026
Why Noa Lang is leaving Napoli already
Noa Lang’s Napoli spell has been complicated from the start.
He barely played in the early months and did not hide his frustration, with his relationship with Antonio Conte becoming a talking point.
At one stage, Lang suggested the coach had spoken to him only once after he joined, to which Conte hit back by criticising him.
Even when tensions eased, the damage to the situation felt hard to ignore.
But it’s not as though Lang didn’t work hard to try and impress Conte. At one point he started to win him over.
Lang had a goal disallowed in Turin, found space against Lecce and scored against Atalanta.
For a while, he looked like an important part of Napoli’s 3-4-2-1 system. But a number of bad results changed the mood.
After defeats at Benfica and Udinese, Conte tweaked his selection and Lang slipped back to the bench.
Napoli apparently U-turned on Lang, deciding to cash in on him amid interest from Galatasaray. They can offer him a fresh start and a clearer role.
Apparently, the Lang transfer news hasn’t gone down well among other Napoli players.
FootItalia recently relayed reports suggesting his teammates tried to talk Conte out of it.
Sadly for Sunderland and Leeds, Lang will not be gracing the English Premier League any time soon.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte is a sports journalist with over a decade of professional experience in the industry. His main professional expertise is in soccer. Prior to joining FootItalia, he worked for the likes of Sports Mole, TBR Football, the Chelsea Chronicle and numerous other sites, along with having bylines in the likes of the Nottingham Post. He holds degrees in Journalism and International Relations.
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