Besiktas ends Joao Mario contract

Beşiktaş said on Wednesday, Sept. 2, that it had ended João Mário’s contract by mutual agreement, according to Turkish media reports carrying the club’s statement. The move confirms the departure of the Portuguese midfielder from the Istanbul club and follows social-media posts earlier in the day that had pointed to a split. Turkish outlet Sporx and broadcaster A Spor both published the same wording attributed to Beşiktaş. (sporx.com) João Mário, whose full name is João Mário Naval da Costa Eduardo, had joined Beşiktaş in September 2024 on a loan deal from Benfica through the end of the 2024-25 season, the club said at the time. (maisfutebol.iol.pt) Turkish Football Federation player records later listed a Beşiktaş registration running to June 30, 2027, indicating the loan had been followed by a longer-term registration. ### What exactly did Beşiktaş say about the split? Turkish reports published on Sept. 2 quoted Beşiktaş as saying: João Mário’s contract “was terminated by mutual agreement” and thanked the player for his service. The same wording appeared in multiple Turkish reports on Wednesday, which described the announcement as official. (sporx.com) The X post that circulated earlier in the day matched the substance of those later reports, but the club statement carried by Turkish outlets is the firmer public confirmation available in open sources reviewed for this story. (bjk.com.tr) ### How long had João Mário been tied to the club? Beşiktaş announced on Sept. 4, 2024, that João Mário had arrived from Benfica on loan until the end of the 2024-25 season, with a purchase option. The club’s English and Turkish pages both identified him as a Portuguese midfielder born on Jan. 19, 1993. (sporx.com) Turkish Football Federation records reviewed in search results listed João Mário under Beşiktaş from Sept. 4, 2024, to June 30, 2027. Those records also showed a later notation tied to Greece, suggesting his status changed after his Beşiktaş registration. (sporx.com) ### Was he already out on loan before this termination? Portuguese outlet Maisfutebol reported on Wednesday that João Mário spent last season on loan at AEK and was now set to continue there on a permanent basis. Turkish and Portuguese reports both linked the contract termination to that next move. (bjk.com.tr) Sabah reported that João Mário made 31 appearances for AEK last season, scoring three goals and adding two assists. Reuters could not independently verify those season statistics from primary competition records in the material reviewed, but the reported loan spell is consistent across multiple outlets. (tff.org) ### Does this make João Mário a free agent? Beşiktaş’s reported wording says the contract was ended by mutual agreement, which ordinarily leaves a player free to sign elsewhere unless another transfer is announced at the same time. In this case, Portuguese reporting said João Mário had become free to complete a return to AEK. (maisfutebol.iol.pt) That conclusion is based on the reported termination and the absence, in the reviewed material, of any simultaneous transfer fee announcement from Beşiktaş. Greek destination reports remain secondary until AEK or Beşiktaş publishes a formal document. Maisfutebol said the midfielder was expected to sign a two-season contract with AEK. (sabah.com.tr) ### Where should readers look next for the formal paper trail? Beşiktaş’s official website and club social channels are the first places likely to carry any direct statement or filing tied to João Mário’s departure. AEK’s official channels would be the next place to confirm any new contract if the move is completed. (sporx.com) Sept. 2 is the key date for the termination itself, and any follow-up announcement naming AEK, contract length or registration details would be the next concrete step in the story. (sporx.com) (bjk.com.tr) (maisfutebol.iol.pt)