Once valued north of $100 million by Napoli, Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen is now finalizing a loan move to reigning Turkish champions Galatasaray.
After failing to secure a move during the European transfer window, Osimhen was frozen out of Napoli’s squad. There was a real possibility that he would sit out the season, or at least until January, but Galatasaray has now offered him an escape route.
According to soccer insider Fabrizio Romano, Galatasaray will cover his $11 million salary but will have no obligation or option to make the move permanent.
Victor Osimhen had a breakthrough season with Napoli in 2022-23, helping the club win Seria A with 26 goals while scoring five more times in the UEFA Champions League. At that point, he was one of the most sought-after players in the world, but Napoli decided to keep him in the fold, hoping for another big campaign.
However, Napoli unraveled last season, finishing ninth in the standings, while Osimhen struggled with injuries and consistency. However, he still managed to get 17 goals in all competitions.
This summer, Napoli’s precarious financial situation meant they would have trouble keeping Osimhen’s salary on their bill while new head coach Antonio Conte also pushed hard to get another type of a striker in Romelu Lukaku. The club tried to sell him but didn’t find any serious takers. The only bigger club willing to take him was Chelsea, but their low offer, in terms of both transfer fee and salary for the player, was deemed disrespectful.
