Victor Osimhen: Napoli and Nigeria striker joins Galatasaray on loan to end summer-long transfer saga

Victor Osimhen has joined Galatasaray from Napoli on a season-long loan deal after failing to find a permanent move during the summer transfer window.  

The Nigeria international was frozen out of Antonio Conte’s squad over the summer amid links to Chelsea and Al-Ahli.  

But a sale failed to materialise before the window closed, and Osimhen has instead joined the Turkish side on a temporary deal until the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

There will be no clause to buy and reportedly there is an option for Osimhen to leave Galatasaray in the January transfer if a club activates his release clause, which will now be reduced to €75m.

The forward will wear the No. 45 shirt with his new club.

His debut could come after the international break on September 14 when Galatasaray host Rizespor in the Turkish Super Lig.

There are also reports that before the transfer window in Turkey shuts that Galatasaray will look to bring in Manchester United midfielder Casemiro.

Turkey’s transfer window remains open until September 13, which gave the Istanbul club the opportunity to arrange a deal for Osimhen after the summer deadline had passed across Europe’s major leagues.  

Osimhen established a reputation as one of European football’s hottest strikers when he won the Serie A golden boot as Napoli claimed their first Scudetto for 33 years in 2022/23.  

He scored 15 league goals in an injury-hit year last season, but failed to replicate his form of the year before as Napoli plummeted to a 10th-place finish in a disappointing title defence.   

Romelu Lukaku was brought in from Chelsea as Osimhen’s replacement before the Nigerian’s sale had been arranged, and the market closing appeared to pose a problem for Napoli, with Osimhen looking set to stay despite not being part of Conte’s plans.  

However, an injury to striker Mauro Icardi encouraged Galatasaray to make an opportunistic move for the 25-year-old.  

Osimhen is under contract until June 2026 at Napoli and club president Aurelio De Laurentiis has held firm in demanding a large transfer fee for a player the Vesuviani signed for £65m from Lille in 2020.  

The 2023 African Footballer of the Year scored 76 goals in 133 appearances over four seasons for Napoli.  

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