Enes Unal Returns to Getafe After Bournemouth Spell

Enes Unal has ended his Bournemouth spell and returned to familiar ground at Getafe, leaving the Premier League side on a free transfer.

The Turkey international, 29, heads back to the Madrid suburb with Bournemouth protected by a series of add-ons. The Cherries could bank up to £1.3m in bonuses and hold a 20% sell-on clause should Getafe move him on in the future.

His time on the south coast never really caught fire. Injuries bit hard. Across all competitions he managed 58 appearances and five goals, a modest return for a forward signed to add a different dimension to Andoni Iraola’s attack.

Unal first arrived at Bournemouth on loan from Getafe in January 2024, a mid-season gamble on a player rebuilding from serious injury. The club liked enough of what they saw to make the deal permanent later that year for around £13m, a statement of faith that circumstances never truly allowed him to repay.

Inside the dressing room, though, his influence ran deeper than the numbers. Bournemouth described him as “a popular figure within the squad” and stressed that he made “a positive contribution both on and off the pitch” during his stay. The club thanked him for his efforts and publicly wished him success back in La Liga.

This exit also speaks to Bournemouth’s wider summer plan. The club have been trimming a rising wage bill and reshaping the squad, and Unal’s departure removes a significant salary from the books as they edge towards the end of their transfer business.

Attention now turns to the next door likely to swing open. Bournemouth are working on a move that would see full-back Max Aarons leave the club, another sign that the squad that started last season will not be the one that kicks off the new campaign.