Jonjo Shelvey, the former Liverpool youngster, Swansea hero, and Newcastle cult legend, recently opened up about his time in Turkey, and it was gut-wrenching to say the least.
Appearing on the Undr The Cosh podcast hosted by Christopher Brown, Johathan Parkin, and Chris Brown, Jonjo Shelvey candidly discussed the hardships he faced in Turkey, his family struggles, rows with Sir Alex Ferguson, his time playing with hero Steven Gerrard, how the Newcastle experience turned toxic, and more.
The English midfielder spent 18 months in Turkey, initially joining Çaykur Rizespor in 2024 after his failed move at Nottingham Forest before moving to Eyüpspor in 2025.
Having to live alone abroad without his family or wife, Daisy Evans, whom he married in 2015, Shelvey ended up spiralling and started abusing drugs.
His time on the pitch was great, having played 39 games and delivered 3 goals and 7 assists, including a goal from the halfway line.
🏴💫 Jonjo Shelvey scores from the halfway line for Çaykur Rizespor! Insane goal. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/SDFhQIKLrm
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) November 12, 2023
However, his problems started after the full-time whistle, as without his wife or three kids around, he struggled with killing time. Being lonely and having nothing to do and nowhere to go in Rize, Shelvey would resort to using sleeping pills and doze off to pass the time.
“I ended up becoming addicted to sleeping tablets because I’d just got home from training and to pass time. I’d think, “What am I going to do now?”
He also claimed that with Rize being a Muslim-oriented city, there were limited restaurants with just Starbucks, McDonald’s, and Domino’s to choose from, and he didn’t want to go there.
“I was in a Muslim-orientated city. There was like three restaurants. To pass time I’d just end up taking three or four sleeping tablets and I’d pass out until the next morning for training.”
He then moved to Istanbul, a much more vibrant city, but by that time, it was already too late as his habit escalated and had already become an addiction.
Moreover, he admitted that he hated being alone, and while he could have gone and gotten drunk, he decided to carry on with the sleeping tablets.
“Just to pass the time… just an escape.
You could go out, but I was there by myself again. So I’m not one to go out by myself. I hate being alone. I thought I could go and drink myself to pass time. But I thought instead of drinking I’d carry on with the sleeping tablets. Drink’s no good for a footballer.”
He also admitted that he would have his final meal of the day at 1 PM or sometimes 3 o’clock, and that would be his last meal for the day. He would then take 3-4 sleeping tablets, wake up at midnight, then pop a few more to go back to sleep and wake up the next day for training.
This ended up destroying his relationship with his wife and kids.
While sympathetic to his struggles, Turkish football fans on Football Twitter did not agree with Shelvey as they questioned the validity of claims that there was a lack of restaurants or places to go and eat in Rize.
@drffakiakin: checked, on tripadvisor i can see over 250 restaurants in Rize..
@ArsenalWWFans: That’s BS. In every Muslim country you can eat non-Muslim,Turkey has one of the best cuisines in the world so what he’s saying is also BS. Additionally, before immigrating to a new country, one usually studies it why didn’t he? Was he only concerned about the contract?
@basedbytes: There are plenty of great restaurants in Turkey. So much great cuisine yet he lists Starbucks and Dominos? I think this shows he wasn’t cut out for living in another country, very narrow minded
@AfoortManc: Very much doubt Rize only had three restaurants, too. Probably loads, but he didn’t want to go to the “majority Muslim” ones so was stuck with Starbucks and McDonald’s. Sounds a total dick.
@RastaKibzy: McDonald’s Dominos and Starbucks?? In Turkey???? Does he know how many Antalya and Istanbul restaurants there are in the UK alone? How was he starving in Turkey
Some even questioned whether it was Shelvey’s close-mindedness and lack of interest in getting himself involved in the culture.
@Deano4x8: Predominantly Muslim with only 3 restaurants? Not sure how the 2 facts correlate… a quick Google search shows there are far more than 3 restaurants in Rize. Basically Jonjo went abroad and had no interest in getting even slightly involved in the culture…
@nik0_mcr: the concept of being “bored in Istanbul” is breaking my brain. probably the liveliest city I’ve ever been.
@SaintKeeks1: Going to almost any country in the middle east and finding nothing to do is narrowminded man. There’s almost always something to do, especially if you’re willing to learn a bit of the language.
@navic_ular: and now he’s decided to “relocate to Dubai” of all places lol
@LeoVuylsteker: An Englishman moving abroad to live in gated communities and having 0 willingness to bound with the locals and their culture… Who would have thought ?!
After his tough 18 months in Turkey, Shelvey had a short stint at Burnley, staying there for a few months before moving to Dubai where he currently plays for Arabian Falcons in the UAE Second Division League.
