Victor Osimhen Joins Galatasaray on Loan from Napoli

Victor Osimhen has officially concluded his long transfer saga by joining Turkish football club Galatasaray on a four-month loan deal from Napoli. With this move, he becomes the sixth Nigerian player to wear the Cimbom jersey.

The transfer of Osimhen has attracted significant attention during the summer transfer window, primarily due to his request to leave Napoli, even after signing a new contract in December 2023. The Nigerian forward made his mark with an outstanding performance, helping Napoli secure their first league title in over three decades, scoring 26 goals and earning the Serie A top scorer award.

Osimhen has gained recognition as one of Europe’s most sought-after strikers, attracting interest from various clubs including Chelsea, Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, and Liverpool. Although Chelsea was his preferred destination, a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli surfaced on the final day of the transfer window.

Upon arriving in Turkey on Monday night, the 25-year-old striker received a warm welcome from thousands of Galatasaray fans. With his transfer situation resolved until at least January, Osimhen will aim to adapt swiftly to his new environment and replicate his impressive performances from the previous season.

Expectations are high for Osimhen’s debut for Galatasaray, scheduled for September 15 against Rizespor, where he will make history as the sixth Nigerian to represent the club. The first Nigerian player to join Galatasaray was Dominic Iorfa in 1992, who played for a brief period before moving to Peterborough.

After Iorfa, the next Nigerian to feature for Galatasaray was Henry Onyekuru, who became the most successful Nigerian at the club with 22 goals and 12 assists in 71 appearances. Valentine Ozornwafor, Oghenekaro Etebo, and Jesse Sekidika are other Nigerians that have played for Galatasaray, albeit with varying degrees of success.

With the arrival of Osimhen, Galatasaray fans are optimistic about experiencing another exciting chapter of Nigerian talent in their team.