By Wale Mustapha
Saudi Pro League giants Al Hilal have reignited their interest in Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, submitting a staggering new offer that could make him the highest-paid African footballer in history, according to a report from Goal.
The club has reportedly tabled a fresh contract proposal worth up to €50 million per year, excluding bonuses, in a renewed bid to lure the 26-year-old Super Eagles forward away from Europe.
Osimhen, currently with Napoli, previously turned down a lucrative offer of €30 million per year after Al Hilal activated his €75 million release clause.
Despite failing to finalize the transfer before the FIFA Club World Cup, the Saudi club remains determined to secure his signature.
The latest bid, if accepted, would eclipse the current record held by Riyad Mahrez, who earns approximately €1 million per week at Al-Ahli, following his move from Manchester City.
Sources close to the negotiation suggest that Al Hilal are prepared to “do whatever it takes” to land Osimhen, underlining the Saudi league’s continued push to attract world-class talent.
Osimhen, who has drawn interest from top European clubs as well, is expected to weigh his options carefully amid growing pressure and unprecedented financial incentives from the Gulf state.
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.
