S Poddar
Victor Osimhen was all smiles as he stepped out of the private jet arranged for him by Galatasaray. It was some minutes past 2 am, and he must have looked enviable. By the time he was leading the fans in a lively rendition of the “Galatasaray cimbom bom” chant on the streets of Istanbul, the excitement had built up for hours. Supporters had been waiting for him throughout the night.
The scenes marked the climax of a tumultuous weekend for Osimhen. He had been left out of Napoli’s Serie A squad on Friday as doubts over his future lingered on. Though the 24-year-old attacker signed a new Napoli contract last December worth €10 million per year and slotted with a reported €130 million release clause, the Italian club had chopped his asking price down to €80 million – €67 million plus bonuses. They had agreed an initial loan with an obligation to buy with Al-Ahli.
Though the 24-year-old opted to reject the move to Saudi Arabia. In turn, Al-Ahli signed Ivan Toney from Brentford. Chelsea were keen to add depth to their squad and tried to negotiate a loan but couldn’t agree on terms. At Napoli meanwhile, new signing Romelu Lukaku – who joined from Chelsea – took Osimhen’s No 9 shirt.
At the start of this transfer window, Arsenal had also passed up an offer to sign Osimhen, but his representatives moved on, believing a solution could be found later in the window. That is where Galatasaray enter the equation.
Late on Tuesday night, Galatasaray announced via their X account: “Official negotiations have begun with the football player and his club regarding the temporary transfer of professional footballer Victor James Osimhen.” They confirmed his arrival in Istanbul before adding a light-hearted touch, referring to the protective mask he has had since an eye socket injury in November 2021. The following day, the transfer was officially completed by Osimhen.
Osimhen was overcome with emotion as he greeted Galatasaray supporters outside the airport before going inside to take his medical tests. Turkish clubs have until September 18 to complete transfers, and Galatasaray freed up room for Osimhen by sending one of its highest earners, Wilfried Zaha, on loan for the season to Lyon. With no loan fee exchanged, the Turkish side will pay Osimhen’s salary. Napoli’s conditions were an extension of Osimhen’s contract by a year, thereby running till 2027, and a reduction of his release clause to €75 million.
Apparently, the loan agreement is inclusive of a break clause that may allow him to leave as early as January if another club meets his release clause and Galatasaray get compensated in the process. This development might just open a window for Chelsea to get their interests across, as they have just missed out on getting a new striker. He had been very enthusiastic about the transfer to Stamford Bridge in earlier talks. Arsenal, with all their fitness doubts on Gabriel Jesus and over-reliance on Kai Havertz, are unlikely to go for Osimhen.
Last season, he failed to replicate the kind of prolific form which helped Napoli win the long-awaited Scudetto and netted himself 26 Serie A goals in 2022-23. He still managed 17 goals across all competitions despite an injury-hit campaign with a hamstring complaint and an Africa Cup of Nations call-up. Napoli finished 10th after Luciano Spalletti left to take over the Italian national team. Antonio Conte, who was appointed as Napoli’s manager three months ago, made it clear that Osimhen would be sold. He, however, refused to criticize the club’s owner Aurelio De Laurentiis for not getting a deal done sooner.
Conte regretted what has not been done: “Some issues blocked it; maybe if we unlocked that situation, we would have completed the team differently and earlier. I am sorry for what happened. I’m sorry for Osimhen. I am sorry that the club didn’t make some money. I am sorry for myself because we did not finish the team as we wanted, but proved the club to be consistent in this situation.”.
A move to Galatasaray now presents Osimhen the opportunity of his career to flex muscles in Turkey’s top flight and the Europa League. Recalling the warm welcome accorded him, he said, “They came here at this time of night … I can already feel them. I will dedicate myself for them every match.”
