Enes Ünal Returns to Getafe After Bournemouth Stint

Enes Ünal’s brief Premier League chapter is over. The Turkey striker has left Bournemouth and returned to familiar ground at Getafe, this time on a free transfer.

The move ends a stop-start spell on the south coast. Ünal, 29, arrived at Bournemouth on loan from the Spanish side in January 2024, before the Cherries made the deal permanent for around £13m later that year. Injuries never really let him settle. He managed 58 appearances in all competitions and scored five goals, flashes of quality without the sustained run that both player and club had hoped for.

Bournemouth have allowed him to leave without a fee, but the deal is not entirely clean-cut. The club could receive up to £1.3m in bonuses, and they have secured a 20% sell-on clause for any future transfer, a nod to the belief that Ünal’s best years may still lie ahead back in La Liga.

His influence at the Vitality Stadium was not confined to the pitch. In a statement, Bournemouth described him as “a popular figure within the squad” and highlighted the “positive contribution” he made on and off the field. The club added: “AFC Bournemouth would like to thank Enes for his efforts during his time with the club and wish him every success for the future.”

Behind the warm words sits a clear strategic move. Bournemouth have been trimming their wage bill and reshaping the squad, and Ünal’s departure fits that wider reset. The club are close to wrapping up their summer transfer business and are now working on a deal that would see full-back Max Aarons leave as well.

Ünal, back at a club where he previously thrived, gets a fresh start. Bournemouth, lighter on wages and edging towards the end of a busy window, press on with a squad built more firmly in their manager’s image.