How Chelsea and Saudi target Victor Osimhen ended up at Galatasaray

Victor Osimhen could not wipe the smile off his face. As he stepped off the private jet that had been lined up several hours earlier by Galatasaray in anticipation of pulling off one of the biggest transfer coups made by a Turkish club, it was well past 2am. By the time the Nigeria striker was leading supporters in a rendition of the “Galatasaray cimbom bom part” song on the streets of Istanbul nearly two hours later, most had been waiting for him all night.

Those remarkable scenes capped a whirlwind weekend for Osimhen, who had been left out of Napoli’s Serie A squad for this season on Friday and seemed to be in limbo. Although he signed a new contract in December with a salary of about €10m a year and a prohibitive release clause worth a reported €130m, the Italian club had dropped his price to €80m (£67m) plus bonuses and agreed an initial loan with an obligation to buy with Al-Ahli.

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However, Osimhen’s decision to reject that move meant the Saudi Arabian club ended up signing Ivan Toney from Brentford, and Chelsea couldn’t strike a deal over a potential loan despite Romelu Lukaku being given Osimhen’s No 9 shirt at Napoli after joining from Chelsea.

Arsenal had turned down the chance to sign Osimhen earlier in the window but his representatives still remained hopeful they could find a late solution for the reigning African player of the year. That is when Galatasaray stepped in.

“Official negotiations have begun with the football player and his club regarding the temporary transfer of professional footballer Victor James Osimhen,” read a statement released on the club’s X account at close to 1am local time on Tuesday. “It is respectfully announced to the public.” Osimhen’s arrival in Istanbul was confirmed in another post, with Galatasaray’s English-language account announcing: “The masquerade is about to start. You are all invited” in reference to the protective mask he wears when playing after an eye socket injury sustained against Inter in November 2021. On Wednesday Osimhen’s signing was confirmed.

Osimhen clearly relished his encounter with Galatasaray’s fans before heading for his medical later in the day, although there was no particular rush. Turkish clubs have an advantage over most of Europe given that their transfer window doesn’t close until 18 September. Galatasaray offloaded Wilfried Zaha – one of their highest earners – to Lyon on a season’s loan and it is understood they will cover Osimhen’s salary and not pay a loan fee. A stipulation from Napoli was that the 25-year-old must also agree to give the club an option to extend his contract by a year until 2027 and that his release clause be reduced to €75m.

The loan contract is understood to contain a break clause that could enable him to leave in January if another club meet his release clause, with Galatasaray then due compensation. That may open the door for Chelsea to revive their interest after failing to secure a new striker, with Osimhen thought to have been keen on moving to Stamford Bridge during negotiations. Arsenal appear unlikely to be in the frame despite doubts over Gabriel Jesus’s fitness and their reliance on Kai Havertz to lead the line.

Last season Osimhen struggled to replicate the form that helped Napoli end their 33-year wait for the Scudetto and brought him 26 Serie A goals in 2022-23. But he still managed 17 in all competitions in a club campaign interrupted by a hamstring injury and his Africa Cup of Nations call-up. Napoli finished 10th after the summer departure of Luciano Spalletti to the Italian national team and Antonio Conte made clear he expected Osimhen to be sold as soon as he was appointed as Napoli’s manager three months ago. He has refused to criticise the owner, Aurelio De Laurentiis, for failing to agree a deal earlier.

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“Some issues blocked it; perhaps if we had unlocked that situation, we would have completed the team differently and earlier,” said the former Chelsea and Tottenham manager after their 2-1 win over Parma on Sunday. “I’m sorry about what happened. I’m sorry for Osimhen. I’m sorry that the club didn’t make some money. I am sorry for myself because we didn’t complete the team as we wanted, but the club proved to be consistent in this situation.”

For a relieved Osimhen, there is an opportunity to showcase his talents in Turkey’s top flight and the Europa League. “They came here at this time of night … I can already feel them,” he said of his reception. “I will dedicate myself for them every match.”