Victor Osimhen breaks records in historic Galatasaray loan spell

By Monsurah Olatunji

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen left an indelible mark during his loan stint at Galatasaray in the 2024–2025 season, setting multiple records and reaffirming his status as one of the most prolific forwards in world football.

The 26-year-old joined the Turkish giants on loan from Serie A side Napoli and delivered an exceptional campaign, scoring 35 goals and providing eight assists in 39 appearances across all competitions.

His performances not only powered Galatasaray to silverware but also rewrote the club’s record books:

• New All-Time Scoring Record: Osimhen’s 35-goal haul broke the long-standing record held by Mario Jardel, who scored 34 goals for Galatasaray during the 2000–2001 season. The milestone was sealed with a brace in the Turkish Cup final against Trabzonspor on May 14, 2025.

• Historic Turkish Cup Final Performance: In the same 3-0 victory over Trabzonspor, Osimhen became the first foreign player in Galatasaray’s history to score twice in a Turkish Cup final, helping the club secure its 19th title in the competition.

• Career-Best Season: The 2024–25 campaign marked Osimhen’s most prolific season yet, surpassing his previous personal best of 31 goals achieved during Napoli’s 2022–23 Serie A-winning season. He broke that mark with another brace—this time against Sivasspor on May 3.

• Debut Domination: On his Super Lig debut against Rizespor on September 14, 2024, Osimhen attempted seven shots in a 5-0 rout—setting a league record for the most shots in a single match during the season.

• Consistent Goal Involvement: Osimhen also became the first player in a decade to register a goal or assist in each of his first six Super Lig matches for Galatasaray. His blistering start included eight goals and four assists, matching a feat last accomplished by Bafétimbi Gomis in the 2014–15 season.

Osimhen joined Galatasaray after scoring 76 goals and providing 18 assists in 133 appearances for Napoli. His performances in Turkey have further elevated his profile, with reports linking him to top clubs across Europe ahead of the 2025 summer transfer window.

Whether he returns to Napoli or moves elsewhere, Osimhen’s legacy in Istanbul is firmly cemented after a season of record-breaking brilliance.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

See Full Bio