Former Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil undergoes drastic career change in Turkey - as he joins up with old friend following retirement from football

Former Germany, Real Madrid and Arsenal star Mesut Ozil is going into politics in a drastic career change.

Ozil, who retired in 2023, made a name for himself as chief playmaker for the likes of Real Madrid and Arsenal, playing 254 times for the Gunners between 2013 and 2021 as a fan favourite.

He had shone for Real Madrid before that, while, at international level, he won the World Cup in 2014 with Germany.

Now, the 36-year-old, who regularly shares fitness videos on social media, having bulked up massively since his north London days, is in Turkey - who he could have played for internationally instead of Germany.

Both his parents are Turkish, and, though he could have played for them, he instead opted for his country of birth and went onto enjoy wide success.

On Sunday, meanwhile, the former midfielder was elected to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) party of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the party announced.

Former Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil has undergone a drastic career change after retirement

Ozil has recently shared a number of images and videos of his new physique on social media

He has now been elected to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) party of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (right)

Ozil is a long-term Erdogan supporter, having chosen him as his best man in 2019 for his wedding to a former Miss Turkey, Amine Gulse (left)

He turned his back on Germany not long after receiving criticism for a photo alongside the president in 2018

Ozil became a member of the AKP's central council at a congress in Ankara where Recep Tayyip Erdogan was re-elected for the ninth time as head of the conservative party which has ruled Turkey since 2002.

Ozil, who ended his club career in Istanbul, is a long-term Erdogan supporter, having chosen him as his best man in 2019 for his wedding to a former Miss Turkey, Amine Gulse.

A photo of Ozil and Erdogan with former Germany team-mate and Manchester City star Ilkay Gundogan, also of Turkish origin, caused controversy, with Berlin accusing the Turkish head of state of repressive drift, while Ozil was criticised by the German far right.

He was one of 39 new appointees into the MYKY - a key decision making body named the Central Decision and Executive Board.

At the ruling party's congress, thousands of supporters gathered inside a sports hall to congratulate the president on securing another term as AKP's leader - his ninth.

31 representatives attended from 16 political parties in 13 countries, as well as 62 ambassadors and 34 mission representatives.

Ozil, previously held up as a symbol of a multicultural Germany, turned his back on the German national team, accusing the German Football Association of racism soon after the photo alongside Gundogan and Erdogan caused controversy.

He said at the time: 'I am German when we win, but I am an immigrant when we lose.'

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