Hull City owner Acun Ilicali has spoken out publicly against what he describes as a wave of false transfer rumours surrounding the club, saying he is "disturbed" by reports suggesting the Tigers have been rejected by targets ahead of their Premier League return.

Hull are heading back to the top flight for the first time in nine years after claiming the Championship play-off final in May, and Ilicali has been active in trying to assemble a squad capable of competing at that level.

Three signings confirmed

The club have completed three arrivals so far: goalkeeper Jack Butland from Rangers, midfielder Oscar Zambrano from Maribor, and defender Matt Targett, who departed Newcastle United ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

In a social media post, Ilicali took the step of directly addressing the swirling speculation. "We are reading dozens of false transfer rumors in many places," he wrote. "We are disturbed by the claims that we have been rejected and by the use of our club's name to gain attention."

He added: "We have been working intensively for two months. I believe we will build a team that we will all be proud of."

Cryptic clues on incoming deals

Ilicali went further, listing the three confirmed signings by name before numbering positions four through 11 — each accompanied by a national flag and a percentage figure indicating how close a deal was to completion.

The Japan flag appeared alongside a figure of 99%, and BBC Radio Humberside sports editor Mike White has reported that Hull have agreed terms with free agent midfielder Hidemasa Morita. Flags representing Greece and Sweden were shown at 90%, while Australia, Croatia, and Portugal were each listed at 80%.

Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic confirmed earlier this month that the club were close to sealing an agreement with Olympiakos goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis, adding another name to the list of expected arrivals.

Financial backing in place

Ilicali has stated that the club secured a £55 million bridging loan to ensure they enter the transfer market from a position of financial strength. The owner was clear that the recruitment drive is well underway, despite the noise generated by unverified reports.