Osimhen tax scare at Galatasaray quickly settled as club pays outstanding bill

Victor Osimhen received a formal legal warning from a Turkish bank over unpaid income tax linked to his €15m Galatasaray salary, before the club intervened to clear the debt and close down the issue.

The Nigeria striker, preparing for the new season and not personally liable for the tax under his contract, was sent an “ihtarname” – an official legal notice – after tax on his earnings had not been settled, according to reports in Turkey relayed by Milliyet.

The notice was addressed directly to Osimhen despite Galatasaray being contractually responsible for handling his income tax obligations. Once the Super Eagles forward was notified, he immediately contacted Galatasaray’s hierarchy, who then moved to pay the outstanding amount.

Club officials acted quickly enough for the case to be wrapped up before it escalated into a wider legal dispute or created any sporting complications for the Turkish Super Lig champions.

Contract detail laid bare

The episode has highlighted a key provision in Galatasaray’s agreements with their leading players: under those contracts, it is the club – not the footballers – that assumes responsibility for paying income tax on salaries for stars such as Osimhen.

The timing of the incident is notable, coming amid Turkish media claims that Galatasaray have been wrestling with financial pressures and had even issued bad cheques to some members of the squad.

Galatasaray have firmly denied those allegations. Officials at the Istanbul side insist no player has received a bounced cheque and describe the stories of bad payments as unfounded rumours. They maintain the tax issue in Osimhen’s case stemmed from an administrative delay rather than a failure to honour contractual commitments.

For Osimhen, the most expensive signing in Turkish Super Lig history, the rapid resolution means his preparations for the new campaign have not been affected. The former Napoli striker came off the bench in the second half of Galatasaray’s 2-0 defeat by Serie A newcomers Monza on Friday night.

Spotlight on Galatasaray’s spending

Even so, the tax warning is likely to prompt renewed scrutiny of Galatasaray’s financial model, which underpins what is widely regarded as the costliest squad in Turkish football.

Reports in Turkey estimate the club’s annual wage bill to be between €96.6m and €103.4m, placing them among the country’s biggest spenders. Osimhen sits at the top of that structure with a reported net salary of €15m per year, equivalent to around €360,577 a week.

Former Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane is also understood to earn about €9m net annually, illustrating how a small group of headline signings accounts for a large proportion of Galatasaray’s total wage expenditure.

Earlier this year, Turkish outlets reported that several players – including Osimhen – had faced delays in receiving some salary instalments, fuelling speculation that the club was encountering cash-flow difficulties.

Club denies crisis talk

Galatasaray president Dursun Ozbek has rejected suggestions of a financial crisis, stressing that the club has “not defaulted on a single lira.” The board argues that payment timetables in Turkish football frequently build in grace periods of 30 to 90 days, which domestic clubs view as routine financial management rather than a sign of distress.

A core element of Galatasaray’s approach is heavy reliance on sponsorship and private investment. In addition to income from matchdays, broadcast deals and merchandise, the club benefits from substantial support from corporate partners and wealthy business figures.

Turkey’s comparatively low tax rate on athletes, relative to several major European leagues, also allows clubs to construct lucrative net-salary contracts while keeping gross costs lower than in some rival markets.

Future still uncertain

Despite his status as a key figure in Istanbul and a favourite among supporters, Osimhen’s long-term future at Galatasaray remains uncertain.

The Super Eagles striker is understood to feature prominently on the recruitment lists of several major European clubs, including Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, PSG and Chelsea, and a summer move away from the Turk Telekom Stadium remains possible.

For now, though, the immediate concern around his tax affairs has been settled, and Osimhen continues to be portrayed by those close to the club as content with life at Galatasaray, where he is regarded as an icon on and off the pitch.