By Wale Mustapha
Nigeria international Victor Osimhen has revealed the emotional motivation behind his blockbuster return to Galatasaray, following confirmation of his €75 million permanent transfer from Serie A side Napoli.
The 26-year-old striker, who spent last season on loan at the Turkish Super Lig champions, has signed a two-year contract with the Istanbul-based club.
Osimhen arrived in Turkey on Wednesday night to a hero’s welcome from Galatasaray supporters at Ataturk Airport.
His official unveiling is scheduled to take place at Rams Park on Saturday, ahead of the club’s high-profile friendly match against Lazio.
Speaking to the media, Osimhen said his decision to return to Galatasaray was deeply personal.
“I have a deep connection with this club, this city, and these people. That’s why I fought so hard to return here,” he said.
“I continue to have that feeling — to continue playing with a purpose. I want to do what’s best for myself and the fans, and I’m really happy to be here.”
Osimhen was instrumental during his loan spell in the 2024/25 season, scoring 30 goals and registering seven assists in 37 appearances across all competitions, helping Galatasaray secure the league title and cementing his place as a fan favourite.
The Nigerian forward’s permanent move marks one of the most significant transfers in Turkish football history and is expected to boost Galatasaray’s domestic and European ambitions this season.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career 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.
