It was pomp and circumstance in Turkey late Monday as Galatasaray fans rolled out the red carpet for Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, who is on loan from Napoli.
Osimhen had been linked to Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Saudi club, Al-Ahli, in recent weeks and months, but the transfer window in Europe’s biggest leagues closed last week without a deal for him.
The Turkish league transfer window doesn’t close until September 13, and Galatasaray suddenly needs help at the centre forward following an injury to Mauro Icardi.
“The player and his club SSCN Napoli SPA have begun official talks regarding the temporary transfer of professional footballer Victor James Osimhen,” Galatasaray posted on Instagram late Monday.
Osimhen scored 26 goals when Napoli won Serie A in 2023, but he has also consistently been slowed by injuries throughout his career.
Osimhen hasn’t been training with Napoli, which had already replaced him by signing Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea — reuniting the Belgium striker with coach Antonio Conte after the pair won Serie A at Inter Milan.
At 25, Osimhen still has a lot of years left to play top-level soccer. Known for his aerial prowess and face mask, he has scored a total of 76 goals in 133 matches across all competitions for Napoli since joining in a club-record €70 million four years ago.
Osimhen grew frustrated last season when Napoli finished 10th during its title defence — a campaign in which he scored 15 Serie A goals.
At Galatasaray, Osimhen would be reunited with Napoli’s all-time leading scorer Dries Mertens.
