After leading Napoli to a title in 2023, Victor Osimhen was expected to join a top club but surprised everyone by moving to Galatasaray on a one-year loan. The unexpected decision may help him keep his options open for a future big move.
John Gibson Sep 5, 2024After leading Napoli to their historic title victory in 2023, Victor Osimhen seemed to have the football world at his feet.
Osimhen's future has been a hot topic during the last two summer transfer windows. As a proven striker with strength, speed, and aerial ability, the Nigerian has been one of the most sought-after talents on the market, second only to Kylian Mbappé.
Flashback to the summer of 2023, and it looked like Osimhen was destined to leave Napoli after a stellar 31-goal season that delivered the club’s first title since 1990. Despite heavy interest from Europe’s elite clubs, no deal came to fruition. Realizing he was staying at Napoli, the 25-year-old went on to net 15 goals in 25 appearances the next season, once again making himself a prime target for top clubs.
Given the struggles of Chelsea and Manchester United, Osimhen likely thought this summer would finally see him move to the Premier League. Yet, in a dramatic deadline day twist, he opted for a shocking one-year loan to Galatasaray, leaving many puzzled.
Galatasaray's squad boasts big names like Mauro Icardi, Hakim Ziyech, and Dries Mertens—all former stars now past their prime. So why would a top striker like Osimhen choose to move there at the peak of his career?
Just a year and a half ago, the polite Nigerian shared with Mail Sport his ambition to play in the Premier League and compete with Erling Haaland for the Golden Boot. “I can score four goals in a game, I can provide more assists, I have the quality to do so much more. I just need to work harder and, by the end of my career, I hope to look back and say, ‘Yes, I did some amazing things,’” Osimhen said in his first interview with a major UK outlet. He also expressed admiration for Chelsea legend Didier Drogba, whom he idolized growing up, and was thrilled when Drogba congratulated him after the 2015 Under-17 World Cup. His love for Drogba, combined with Chelsea's aggressive transfer tactics under new ownership, led many to believe a move to Stamford Bridge was inevitable, especially after Romelu Lukaku joined Napoli for £38 million.
Chelsea made a strong push to sign Osimhen before the transfer window closed, despite already signing several players like Jadon Sancho, Joao Felix, and Pedro Neto. However, the deal fell through, reportedly due to a failure to agree on personal terms, with Chelsea unwilling to meet Osimhen’s wage demands.
After fans learned that the Chelsea move was off, attention shifted to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli, who had a £67 million bid accepted and were prepared to meet Osimhen’s contract demands. However, Osimhen turned down their offer, leading Al-Ahli to sign Brentford’s Ivan Toney instead, who is reportedly earning over £400,000 per week.
Perhaps the appeal of Galatasaray, who signed Osimhen without an obligation to buy and are covering his entire £240,000-a-week salary during his time in Turkey, lies in the temporary nature of the move. After expressing his desire to leave, Osimhen was frozen out of Antonio Conte’s squad and risked spending most of the season on the bench, which could have diminished his appeal in future transfer windows.
By next summer, Osimhen will still be only 26 and could command a lucrative move to one of Europe’s top clubs. Sticking around in Paris for an extra year certainly didn’t hurt Mbappé ahead of his inevitable move to Real Madrid.
Trading the tense situation at Napoli for the warm reception he received from Galatasaray fans upon his arrival in Istanbul, Osimhen likely saw this deadline day move as an easy choice.
Excitedly arriving in the early hours of Tuesday morning, Osimhen quickly won over the Galatasaray faithful by leading chants and greeting ecstatic fans. However, despite his enthusiastic embrace of Galatasaray supporters, the Nigerian star could leave Istanbul as early as January, thanks to a unique clause reportedly included in his contract.
Turkish reports claim that Osimhen requested a break clause allowing him to transfer to one of 10 unnamed clubs. It’s also rumored that his Napoli release clause has been reduced from £109 million to £63 million, potentially paving the way for a permanent move away from Serie A.
While joining Galatasaray may not have been in Osimhen’s original career plans, it could prove to be a crucial step toward realizing his long-held Premier League dreams.