Top 5: Ranking the Nigerian stars who have played for Galatasaray and Liverpool

Galatasaray and Liverpool are two historic clubs in European football, and their meeting in the UEFA Champions League always attracts global attention, Afrik-Foot reports.

When the Turkish giants host Liverpool at RAMS Park in Istanbul for the first leg of their Round of 16 clash, the stakes will be high.

Liverpool, who have won the Champions League six times, are widely seen as favourites because of their rich history and strong squad. Galatasaray, meanwhile, enter the tie as underdogs but will count on their passionate home support and the quality within their team.

One player who could make a major difference is Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen. The forward has been in outstanding form in Europe this season, scoring seven Champions League goals. His goals have come against top sides including Liverpool during the group stage, Ajax and Juventus.

Osimhen’s performances have already made him a fan favourite in Istanbul, and many supporters now consider him the greatest Nigerian to have worn the famous Galatasaray shirt.

However, Osimhen is not the only Nigerian footballer who has represented Galatasaray or Liverpool over the years. Several Super Eagles players have worn the colours of these clubs, leaving different levels of impact.

Here is a look at some of the Nigerian stars who have played for either Galatasaray or Liverpool.

5. Jesse Sekidika (Galatasaray)

Jesse Sekidika joined Galatasaray in January 2020 with plenty of excitement surrounding his arrival. The winger signed for the Turkish giants after impressing earlier in his career and quickly began training with the first team.

Shortly after joining the club, Sekidika featured in a friendly match against Altay. Speaking after that game, he expressed his excitement about representing such a famous club and described the move as the beginning of an important journey in his career.

Despite the optimism at the start, things did not fully work out for him in Istanbul. Opportunities were limited and he struggled to secure a regular place in the starting line-up.

Sekidika eventually made 19 appearances for Galatasaray and scored one goal during his time with the club. His contract was later terminated on 15 August 2022, bringing his spell at the Turkish side to an end.

Although his time was short, he remains part of the small group of Nigerian players to represent the club.

4. Victor Moses (Liverpool)

Victor Moses is the only Nigeria international to have had the chance to play for Liverpool. The winger joined the Reds on a season-long loan in September 2013.

He made an immediate impact by scoring on his debut in a 2-2 draw against Swansea City. The goal was an encouraging start and raised hopes that Moses could become an important attacking option for Liverpool.

Another memorable moment came in January 2014 when he scored the opening goal in Liverpool’s 2-0 FA Cup win over Bournemouth.

However, competition for places in the Liverpool attack was intense at the time. Young winger Raheem Sterling was enjoying an outstanding season under manager Brendan Rodgers, which limited Moses’ playing time.

As a result, Moses made 22 appearances for Liverpool during the campaign, but only nine of those were starts.

Although his spell at Anfield was brief, Moses went on to enjoy far greater success later in his career with Chelsea, where he won the Premier League, the FA Cup and two UEFA Europa League titles.

3. Peter Etebo (Galatasaray)

Super Eagles midfielder Peter Etebo joined Galatasaray on loan from Stoke City in September 2020 for the 2020-21 season.

Etebo quickly became a useful member of the squad thanks to his energy, defensive work and ability to cover large areas of the pitch. His strong physical presence made him a reliable option in midfield.

During that season, he made 29 appearances for the club across all competitions. Galatasaray came very close to winning the Turkish Süper Lig title that year but eventually finished second.

They lost the championship to rivals Beşiktaş on goal difference after a dramatic end to the season.

Although Etebo’s loan spell lasted only one year, he played a consistent role in the team before returning to Stoke City.

2. Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray)

Henry Onyekuru enjoyed one of the most successful spells by a Nigerian player at Galatasaray.

He first joined the club on loan from Everton in July 2018. The loan deal reportedly cost Galatasaray around £700,000, but it quickly proved to be excellent value.

Onyekuru played a key role during the 2018-19 season and helped the club secure the Turkish league title. One of his most important contributions came in May 2019 when he scored in a 2-1 win over İstanbul Başakşehir, a victory that confirmed Galatasaray as champions.

That triumph also completed a domestic double after the club had already won the Turkish Cup the previous week.

Because of his success, Onyekuru returned to Galatasaray on loan several more times. Across his different spells with the club, he played 71 matches and scored 22 goals.

His pace, direct running and ability to score important goals made him a popular figure among the fans.

1. Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray)

Victor Osimhen’s journey to Galatasaray has been one of the most dramatic transfer stories in recent years.

During the summer transfer window of 2024, the Nigerian striker was heavily linked with several major clubs including Al-Ahli, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain. At one point, a move to Saudi Arabia appeared close, but the deal collapsed after Napoli changed their asking price.

A potential transfer to Chelsea also failed to materialise, leaving Osimhen in a difficult position. Soon after, he was excluded from Napoli’s Serie A squad for the season.

Galatasaray then stepped in and offered him a loan move for the 2024–25 campaign. The transfer was confirmed in early September, and it did not take long for Osimhen to make his mark.

He scored his first goals for the club in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Kasımpaşa and soon began delivering impressive performances in Europe as well.

One of his most memorable displays came in the Europa League when he scored twice in a dramatic 3-2 win over Tottenham.

Osimhen continued breaking records. In March 2025, he scored his first hat-trick for the club in a 4–0 victory over Antalyaspor. Later that season, he scored twice in the Turkish Cup final against Trabzonspor, helping Galatasaray win the trophy.

Those goals took his tally to 35 in 39 matches, setting a new record for the most goals scored in a single season by a foreign player in Turkish football. He surpassed the long-standing mark previously held by Mario Jardel.

Just days later, he scored again as Galatasaray sealed the Süper Lig title, finishing the campaign as the league’s top scorer with 26 goals.

In July 2025, Galatasaray completed a permanent transfer worth €75 million, making Osimhen the most expensive signing in Turkish football history.

His record-breaking run continued. In November, he scored a Champions League hat-trick against Ajax and later became the fastest player in the club’s history to reach 50 goals, achieving the milestone in just 59 appearances. So far, Osimhen has scored 55 goals in 67 matches for Galatasaray, the highest total by any Nigerian player in the club’s history.

With performances like these, it is clear why he is already regarded as one of the greatest foreign strikers to ever play for the Turkish giants.