Galatasaray officially announced the signing of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen on a season-long loan from Napoli until June 2025.
The loan deal doesn’t include an option to buy for the Galatasaray side. The Turkish side will pay €6 million in net wages to the Nigerian football star for the 2024–25 season
Osimhen signed a contract extension from December 2023 to 2026 with the Serie A giant, Napoli. The contract came with a release clause of €130 million.
However, before he left to join Galatasaray, it was revealed that the release clause was reduced to €75 million after no football club showed any interest in paying the initial release clause.
The Nigerian international was subjected to various transfer interests in the 2024–25 transfer window. He was heavily linked with a move away from Napoli, with Al Ahli, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain wanting to sign the player on a permanently.
Napoli accepted a €80 million bid from Al Ahli, but Victor Osimhen expressed his interest in continuing playing at the highest level in Europe.
Chelsea proposed a salary cut to Osimhen on the deadline day, but they couldn’t find an agreement with Napoli in an attempt to sign the Nigerian international.
After the end of the transfer window on August 30, 2024, the player was banished from the first team squad, and his No. 9 jersey was taken away from him.
Osimhen joined Napoli from Lille in 2020 for a transfer fee worth €70 million with €10 million add-ons.
The 2022–23 season was the best for the Nigerian in the Napoli shirt, where he ended the season with 26 goals in the Serie A.
He was famously referred to as the Prince of Naples for his immense contribution to the success of the team.
Osimhen helped Napoli win their first Scudetto in 33 years in the 2022–23 season. However, last season, he failed to live up to expectations because of injuries.
What Number Will Victor Osimhen Wear at Galatasaray?
The Nigerian international requested the No. 45 jersey upon his arrival at Galatasaray. He will make his debut for the Turkish side against Rizespor on September 18, 2024, at 6:00 pm.
Nigerian Footballers Who Had Played For Galatasaray in the Turkish League
Henry Onyekuru played for Galatasaray in January 2020 and 2021. He achieved an incredible feat at the club, scoring 22 goals and creating 21 assists in 71 matches in all competitions.
Retired Super Eagles striker Dominic Iorfa is another Nigerian who played for Galatasaray. He had a short spell at the club in the 1991-92 season.
Oghenekaro Etebo is another Nigerian who has played for the Galatasaray side. He joined the Turkish side on a season loan from Stoke City in 2020.
Another player is Valentine Ozornwafor. The football star made a significant move from Nigeria’s Premier League club, Enyimba to Galatasaray in 2019.
However, his football campaign at Galatasaray was less impressive because of limited playing time.
What do you think about Victor Osimhen’s move to Galatasaray? Air your views in the comments section.
