Mert Çelik

Mert Çelik was part of the Neftçi Baku side that won the 2020–21 Azerbaijan Premier League, ending Qarabağ's seven-year run as champions. He was on loan from İstanbul Başakşehir, and brought 42 appearances and two goals.

He came through the academies of Galatasaray, where he spent two years, and then Başakşehir, where he stayed for six. He joined Başakşehir's senior squad in 2019 but did not make a league appearance for the club, so his first-team football came elsewhere. In 2020 he went on loan to Kırşehir Belediyespor, playing three times and scoring once. A later loan to Bandırmaspor in 2023–24 produced three appearances.

Başakşehir let him leave on a free transfer in July 2024, and he made 32 appearances for Sabail FK. A year later he signed for Sivasspor, again on a free transfer.

Çelik chose to represent Azerbaijan at senior level and won four caps for the under-21 side. His full debut came on 25 March 2025 in a friendly against Belarus, which Azerbaijan lost 0–2. He was substituted in the 67th minute.

Late in 2025 the Turkish Football Federation suspended him for 45 days pending an investigation into irregularities linked to illegal betting. Çelik has said he is innocent and that a bank account opened in his childhood was used without his knowledge. The Azerbaijan Football Association has confirmed that he has not been called up during this period.