Rumour Mills: Victor Osimhen’s €75M Galatasaray return sets Turkish transfer record

By Dayo Awoniyi

Galatasaray have completed the sensational signing of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen from Napoli in a deal worth €75 million, setting a new transfer record for Turkish football.

According to Turkish outlet Fanatik, the 26-year-old will be officially unveiled at RAMS Park on Saturday, August 2, during a high-profile friendly against Lazio. The Turkish club is planning a grand ceremony to mark what is being hailed as a historic moment for both Galatasaray and the Turkish Süper Lig.

Club vice president Abdullah Kavukcu is expected to finalize the paperwork in Italy before accompanying Osimhen back to Istanbul.

Osimhen returns to Galatasaray following a remarkable 2024/25 season on loan, during which he scored 37 goals and provided eight assists in 41 appearances, helping the club secure a domestic double. His return—previously considered unlikely—comes despite a reported €160 million bid from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.

Under the terms of the deal, Galatasaray will pay €40 million upfront, with the remaining €35 million due by the end of 2026. Napoli have secured a 10% sell-on clause and imposed a two-year ban preventing Osimhen from transferring to another Serie A club.

The transfer is among the most expensive exits in Napoli’s history and becomes the largest signing ever made by a Turkish club, surpassing all previous Süper Lig transfer records.

Osimhen had been linked with Premier League sides Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United earlier in the summer, but chose to continue with the Turkish champions—a decision that has further cemented his status as a fan favorite in Istanbul.

Although he has missed preseason matches, including Galatasaray’s recent 3–1 win over Cagliari, his return is expected to boost the club’s ambitions for domestic and European success in the 2025/26 season.

Samuel Ahmadu

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.

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