When Jonjo Shelvey relocated to Turkey in 2023, it was intended to signal a fresh start and a novel journey in a professional career that had kicked off a decade and a half prior, back when he made his first-team debut for Charlton at just 16 years of age.
Leaving Nottingham Forest, the midfield player joined Caykur Rizespor, an environment that permitted him to dedicate himself entirely to his play; however, a subsequent transfer to Eyupspor did not yield the desired results.
A host of monetary, personal, and physical challenges quickly ensued, leaving Shelvey feeling more and more detached and finding it difficult to handle the distance from his relatives.
Shelvey reflects on his time in Turkey
“My initial destination was Caykur Rizespor, which was fantastic for me because it allowed me to zero in solely on my game,” Shelvey explained to FourFourTwo. Yet, despite the club offering a simple day-to-day routine, adjusting to the lifestyle in Turkey presented several hurdles.
“It was a deeply Muslim region where there weren’t many activities available; socializing was restricted, alcohol was unavailable, and daily life revolved entirely around staying at the training complex and playing matches.
“The communication barrier was tough, as was the struggle to build friendships while being separated from my family. Even so, my initial season was enjoyable and I probably should have extended my contract. Instead, I opted for Eyupspor, which proved unsuccessful. Still, I took a chance and stepped outside of my comfort zone.”
This decision confronted Shelvey with the harsher realities of residing and competing in a foreign country, even though certain parts of his Turkish stint remained highly appealing.
“I must admit that the Turkish supporters are incredibly fervent and make playing in front of them an absolute joy.
“However, receiving your wages can be an issue over there. While some clubs are punctual, others fail to pay overseas players on schedule, offering physical cash instead—which is impossible to legally transport out of the nation.
“If an ex-colleague sought my guidance on moving there, my response would hinge entirely on the specific team in question.”
Outside of his sporting duties, Shelvey felt more and more cut off from the world.
“I experienced intense boredom and solitude residing there away from my household,” he went on to say. “While at my second team, it felt as though my options were either visiting a pub for half a dozen beers or returning home to use sleeping medication to get some rest. Initially, a single pill would put me to sleep, but by the following day, that dose was insufficient because my system had adapted to it.
“Eventually, I reached a point where I was consuming six or seven pills simultaneously just to escape into sleep for the night. A dependency developed. Luckily, upon leaving Turkey to sign with Burnley, I received the proper support to address the issue and successfully stop using them.”
