After much speculation, Nigerian soccer star Victor Osimhen has officially agreed to a transfer away from Napoli. The forward was touted to part ways with the Italian outfit for a long time, with sides such as Chelsea eyeing his signature. However, in a decision that surprised many, the former Lille striker has instead opted to join the Turkish Süper Lig with Galatasaray.
Here are all the available details regarding Osimhen’s unexpected move to the Yellow Reds.
Napoli’s Victor Osimhen secures loan transfer to Galatasaray
Turkish giants Galatasaray have officially landed the signing of Victor Osimhen on a loan transfer, as per The Standard.
Ever since his breakout 2022-23 season with Napoli, the 25-year-old attacker has seen interest from a plethora of top European clubs. As such, Osimhen was expected to join forces with another club this transfer window. Romelu Lukaku was eventually recruited from Chelsea to take over striking responsibilities. Additionally, recent disagreements with Gli Azzurri’s managerial team all but confirmed the striker’s departure from Naples.
Premier League mainstay Chelsea sought to take advantage of the situation and lodged a bid to facilitate Victor Osimhen’s transfer. However, their pursuit was cut short after the Blues failed to agree terms with Napoli regarding the deal. Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ahli also tabled a hefty €80 million offer for Osimhen’s services but to no avail, per Transfermarkt. With coach Antonio Conte confirming his ousting from the squad, Osimhen was left with no viable destinations.
Nonetheless, Galatasaray swooped in at the last moment to take Victor Osimhen off Napoli’s hands in a loan transfer. The reigning Turkish champions have agreed to sign the frontman for one year without including an option or obligation to buy. The deal also features a reported break clause in case clubs attempt to sign him in the January transfer window.
Galatasaray will also be covering €9-10 million of the footballer’s annual salary.
