After declining offers to leave the team during the January transfer window, which has now ended in the majority of his designated European leagues with the exception of Turkey, Super Eagles attacker Victor Osimhen will serve out his one-year loan stay at Galatasaray.
In the summer, Osimhen moved from Napoli to Galatasaray on loan, with no purchase option.
Due to personal reasons, the player who had distanced himself from the Napoli hierarchy and left the negotiating table for possible moves to Chelsea and Saudi Arabia turned to the Turkish powerhouses as a final resort.
The club’s supporters enthusiastically welcomed the Nigerian’s transfer to Galatasaray, but after he immediately made an impact with goals and assists, they began to worry that he might leave six months into his contract.
Osimhen’s loan deal from Napoli included a clause that permits the player to join one of his many suitors during the January transfer window, according to Galatasaray’s technical director Okan Buruk.
He stated that he will stay, thus it doesn’t matter that there is a clause there. A provision pertaining to transfers in January exists. There are various things under this phrase,” Buruk stated in November 2024.
“The player is what matters.” The player makes the choice. Osimhen believes he will remain here because of this. When he arrived, he made the same statement.
The Super Eagles striker told reporters after scoring a brace against Tottenham in the Europa League in November 2024 that he was committed to Galatasaray, following rumors of a possible departure in January.
“I’ll be with Galatasaray until the conclusion of the season; I won’t be leaving in January. He remarked, “I don’t know what Galatasaray and Napoli are discussing after this, but if they come to me, we’ll talk.”
Premier League powerhouses Manchester United and Arsenal did, in fact, make attempts to sign the player from Napoli, but Osimhen allegedly turned down the offers, refusing to break his pledge to Galatasaray to finish his loan period.
The 26-year-old reportedly turned down a January transfer window offer to join Manchester United after the team attempted to find a method to terminate his loan agreement at Galatasaray, according to Football Italia.
Juventus also pursued the Nigerian toward the close of the transfer window, and Arsenal also entered the fight to get him since they needed a prolific striker to spearhead their Premier League drive.
According to Nigerian OAP Buchi Laba, who is close to the player, the player once again made his position known prior to the January window opening.
In order to remain at Galatasaray for the entire season, Victor Osimhen turned down every offer in January 2025, the journalist stated.
The goal has always been to remain at Galatasaray for the entire season and win championships with the squad, even though there is genuine, tangible interest.
In response to Osimhen’s rejection, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis lost control of his temper and reportedly said, “Then let him stay where he is.” This was reported by La Repubblica. Request that Galatasaray take Osimhen.
Galatasaray’s €65 million offer was also turned down by Napoli, who want to sign the player to a long-term contract. The striker will only be transferred for his entire €75 million release clause, according to Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis.
Since England’s January transfer window is now closed, preventing a move to the Premier League until at least the summer, it is unclear if Osimhen will be willing to remain in Turkey permanently after his loan period is over. He has already fulfilled his first half of the agreement by staying, so the only thing left to do is win trophies at the end of the season.
With 57 points, Galatasaray leads second-place Fenerbahce by six points and is currently undefeated in the Turkish Super Lig.
They are also up against AZ Alkmaar of the Netherlands in the UEFA Europa League playoffs.
With 12 goals and four assists in 16 league games thus far, as well as five goals and one assist in six Europa League games, Osimhen has fueled their title aspirations.
ALSO READ:
According To Kemi Badenoch, Immigrants Should Only Be Granted British Citizenship After 15 Years.
