Shavy Babicka joins Süper Lig strugglers on loan

After struggling for playing time with Serbian giants Red Star Belgrade, Gabonese forward Shavy Babicka will attempt to aid Fatih Karagümrük’s relegation fight after moving on loan to the Turkish Süper Lig club.

 

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The situation is dire for the Gabon national team forward/winger’s new club, who he has joined until the end of the 2025-26 season. Karagümrük have a miniscule 9 points from 19 matches and have not won a league match since early November, leaving them at the bottom of the table and 7 points from escaping the relegation zone.

But for the purpose of earning regular playing time, it is a good move for Babicka. After featuring in all four matches of Red Star’s efforts to qualify for the UEFA Champions League main stage, he was substituted at halftime on his Serbian SuperLiga debut before being dropped.

A broken fibula suffered towards the end of September further disrupted his chances of playing time and he was limited to one substitute appearance for the remainder of 2025. A new environment presents an opportunity for the Gabonese, with Karagümrük having a €4 million option to make the transfer permanent according to Foot Mercado journalist Santi Aouna.

🚨EXCL: 🔴🇬🇦 #SüperLig |

🔐 Fatih Karagümrük and Étoile Rouge Belgarde seal deal for Shavy Babicka on initial loan with €4m buy option clause.

❗️Talks ongoing with player side. Babicka will travel today to Turkey to meet the clubhttps://t.co/9E4OGonjZ5 pic.twitter.com/JZgpMdpkLD

— Santi Aouna (@Santi_J_FM) January 26, 2026

Babicka joined Red Star for the same €4 million fee after spending a season-and-a-half with French Ligue 1 club Toulouse where he produced 5 goals and 2 assists in 48 matches between action in the league and Coupe de France. His first spell in European club football came in Cyprus with Aris Limassol, where he provided 16 goals and 21 assists in 90 appearances. He also starred for Gabonese club Mangasport as well as Rwanda Premier League club Kiyovu Sports.

A versatile attacker who can operate on either flank or in a central forward role, the 25-year-old recovered from his leg injury to be selected by Gabon coach Thierry Mouyouma for the Panthers’ disastrous 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign.

He made a substitute appearance in the opening 0-1 defeat to Cameroon before being yanked at halftime by Mouyouma after starting in the 2-3 loss to Mozambique. Babicka has 21 appearances with his nation, scoring 3 goals including the match winner on his debut during a 1-0 victory over DR Congo in 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.

Karagümrük will resume league play on Saturday with a test away from home at 4th place side Göztepe.