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Victor Osimhen to inherit iconic No 9 shirt at Galatasaray from 2026/27 season
Victor Osimhen is set to become the new owner of Galatasaray’s revered No 9 shirt from the 2026/27 campaign, in a move widely viewed in Turkey as a clear statement of trust in the Nigeria striker’s status at the club.
The Super Eagles forward, who has been turning out in the No 45 jersey since arriving in Istanbul, will switch to the traditional centre-forward number once it is fully vacated by Mauro Icardi, according to Turkish outlet Habersarikirmizi.
Galatasaray’s hierarchy are reported to have taken particular care over the timing of the decision, mindful of the Argentine’s legacy and popularity among supporters.
Club waits out of ‘respect’ for Icardi
Turkish journalist Ali Naci Kucuk says the board deliberately delayed reassigning the shirt in recognition of Icardi’s impact.
He reports that Galatasaray’s management “waited for Mauro Icardi” before finalising the change, underlining the respect the club still hold for the former No 9 and his contribution to recent successes.
The Istanbul giants were keen to avoid any perception of pushing Icardi aside while he remained associated with the team, and chose instead to make the change only once his future had moved on from the Turk Telekom Stadium.
The decision clears the way for Osimhen to step into a number that carries both history and expectation at the Turkish champions.
Symbol of faith in Nigerian star
The switch is being interpreted by Turkish media as more than a simple change of digits; it is understood as a marker of Galatasaray’s long-term faith in Osimhen as the focal point of their attack.
The No 9 shirt has traditionally been worn by the club’s leading striker, and awarding it to the Nigerian is seen as confirmation that he is central to their sporting project in the coming seasons.
“The number 9 jersey now belongs to Osimhen, who is expected to begin the new campaign wearing the prestigious shirt,” Habersarikirmizi reported, noting that the move reflects the club’s “growing confidence” in his importance to their future plans.
Following Icardi’s path
There is also a symmetry to the change that has not gone unnoticed among supporters.
Icardi himself did not start his Galatasaray career in the No 9. The former Inter and Paris St‐Germain forward initially took the No 99 shirt before later switching to the iconic number once it became available.
Osimhen, who began with No 45, will now mirror that journey by stepping into one of the most recognisable shirts in Turkish football.
For Galatasaray fans, the hope will be that the Nigerian can replicate not only Icardi’s number, but also his prolific scoring record, as he prepares to lead the line wearing the club’s most famous jersey from 2026/27 onwards.
