Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has expressed his excitement over joining Turkish club Galatasaray after a turbulent transfer saga. The Super Eagles forward was left in limbo at Napoli under new manager Antonio Conte, who excluded him from the squad following his request to leave the club.
Napoli had replaced Osimhen with Romelu Lukaku, signed from Chelsea, leaving the 25-year-old in a precarious position. There was a strong possibility of Osimhen moving to Chelsea on a loan deal with an obligation to buy, but negotiations stalled when the Nigerian forward reportedly demanded a weekly wage of over £300,000, according to Sky Sports.
With the Chelsea move collapsing, Osimhen found himself without a clear path forward. Saudi club Al-Ahli also pursued the striker and had prepared a lucrative offer that would have made Osimhen the highest-paid Nigerian footballer in history. However, Al-Ahli ultimately shifted focus and signed Ivan Toney from Brentford instead.
After the transfer windows in both Saudi Arabia and Europe closed, Napoli agreed to loan Osimhen to Galatasaray. Turkish clubs still had until September 13 to finalize their summer transfers, giving Galatasaray the opportunity to secure Osimhen’s services.
Osimhen arrived in Istanbul in the early hours of Tuesday to a warm welcome from thousands of Galatasaray fans, who greeted him with cheers, drums, and chants. “I am ready to give my best for them. This is one of the best sets of fans in the world. It feels good to be here, and I am absolutely excited,” Osimhen stated upon his arrival. He added, “Of course, I cannot wait to see them in the stadium, and I hear how they scream when I score. I am ready to give my best for them.”
The striker is expected to undergo medical checks before Galatasaray makes an official announcement of his signing. During his loan, Galatasaray will cover his full salary but will not be obligated to buy him after the season ends, as reported by Sky Italia.
