When the names of top strikers in the world are mentioned, the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Alexander Isak, Erling Haaland, Robert Lewandowski, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe and Lautaro Martinez come to mind. One name that is impossible to leave out is Victor Osimhen.
Ever since he helped Napoli win their first Serie A title since 1990 two years ago, and also won the Capocannoniere as top goal scorer, his name has catapulted to global stardom.
While Osimhen became a cult figure in the manner that the likes of legendary Argentine Diego Maradona enjoyed during the club’s most successful years between 1987 and 1990, other clubs started showing interest in him.
For a player less than 25 years of age then making global headlines, he was not going to be sold for cheap, and Napoli slapped a €130 million release clause when he signed a contract extension in December 2023. It was however the beginning of his end at the club.
Osimhen fell out of favour with the club establishment, having a modest 2023-24 season where he scored 17 goals in 32 games despite dealing with multiple injury problems. By the end of the campaign, it was clear Osimhen was not going to be part of the Napoli for the 2024-25 season under new boss Antonio Conte.
This was the perfect time for Osimhen to move to a bigger side, but all clubs rumoured to be interested in him, from Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, and also Paris Saint-Germain, were not ready to match his release clause and high wage demands.
He was almost not going to play any competitive football for the 2024-25 campaign after the transfer window for most European leagues closed, but the extended window of the Turkish Super Lig allowed Galatasaray to sign the Nigerian star on loan.
While there were mixed feelings about the deal, as it was seen as a place where someone of his stature should be playing, it was his reality, and he was at his prolific best again, scoring 37 goals in 41 competitive games, a record for a foreign player in the Turkish Super Lig in his first season. He also scored 26 goals in the league to finish as top scorer, with Galatasaray winning the top flight for the 25th time and also a 19th Turkish Cup.
Osimhen was happy as he felt at home in Istanbul and built an affinity with the players and fans, usually praising them in his post-match interviews. A remarkable season to remember, but this summer came, and the question marks remained on where he would go next with one year left on his Napoli contract.
Despite having his release clause reduced to €75 million, no top European club was still interested in the Lagos-born player. Only Saudi Pro League giants Al-Hilal were able to match Napoli’s asking price and offered him a mouthwatering €160 million in wages over four years, but he was not keen to move to the oil-rich Arabian Gulf nation.
This left Osimhen at crossroads, and only Galatasaray came with an offer among European teams. Getting to pay the €75 million asking price of Napoli was going to be a tough task but after multiple back and forth, Napoli have accepted an immediate €40 million payment, with €35 million to be paid in the next year, while Osimhen cannot be sold to another Italian club for the next two years, and have a clause of a 10% profit on any future sale.
— Victor Osimhen (@victorosimhen9) May 20, 2025
Osimhen now has a club where he can be settled. There are still doubts about whether Galatasaray is the right club for a player who should have the world under his feet. While these concerns are genuine, only he knows what he wants and returning to Turkey is favourable for him at the moment.
It is worth noting that he has a great support cast at Galatasaray with players like Baris Alper Yilmaz and Yunus Akgun on either flank, creating the bulk of opportunities that came his way last term.
The Yellow-Reds might not be comparable in financial strength to the leading clubs in England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France, but the Turkish Super Lig remains a popular destination for players still at the top of their game.
— Victor Osimhen (@victorosimhen9) May 31, 2025
Gala, along with other clubs like rivals Fenerbahce, Besiktas and Trabzonspor, have massive fanbases, making matchdays in Turkey one to savour. Also, Okan Buruk’s side will feature in the UEFA Champions League for the upcoming season, allowing Osimhen to impress against Europe’s elite.
There are doubts about how far Galatasaray can go in the competition, with their best record seeing them reach the quarter-final 24 years ago, but the presence of a player like Osimhen could just be what will make them defy the odds.
At 26 years, the 2023 African Player of the Year still has the world on his shoulders and can still make it out at another top club in the near future. For now, he should enjoy his stint at Galatasaray and flourish to the best of his abilities.
