€150m Osimhen question: Can Al Hilal convince Galatasaray to sell Super Eagles star?

Al Hilal have renewed their push to sign Victor Osimhen but the Saudi Pro League giants face a difficult task to persuade Galatasaray to sell the Nigeria striker, Afrik-Foot reports.

The Saudi club has approached Galatasaray to understand what it would take to sign the 27-year-old this summer, according to transfer insider Sacha Tavolieri. The move comes after several previous attempts to take Osimhen to Saudi Arabia, including offers worth more than €100 million and salary packages that would have made him one of the highest-paid players in world football.

Galatasaray’s position has changed during the transfer window. The Turkish champions have previously valued Osimhen at between €130m and €150m, while recent reports indicate that the club no longer plan to sanction the forward’s departure.

A big-money offer could yet convince Galatasaray to change their minds again but a transfer to Al Hilal will likely face two major obstacles, Galatasaray’s decision-makers and Osimhen himself.

Osimhen: Galatasaray hold the key

Galatasaray signed Osimhen permanently after his successful spell in Istanbul and tied him to a contract until June 2029. President Dursun Özbek has also said the agreement contains no active release clause. That means Al Hilal cannot simply pay a fixed amount and take the striker. The Saudi club must reach an agreement with Galatasaray.

The Turkish side also made a huge financial commitment to keep Osimhen. His four-year package has been reported at about €159m, including a €15m annual salary, a €1m loyalty payment and €5m per year linked to image rights. That investment helps explain why Galatasaray have previously demanded a huge fee.

There is another issue that cannot be measured in euros. Özbek has spoken openly about the pressure surrounding any decision to sell Osimhen. The striker has become a central figure at Galatasaray, and losing him after just one permanent season would create serious anger among supporters.

Al Hilal therefore need more than money. They need Galatasaray’s board to accept that the financial reward is worth the sporting and political cost of losing its star striker.

Al Hilal can attack from two sides

Money is where Al Hilal have a clear advantage. The Saudi club has the financial backing to consider a €150m deal, which would be within the level of spending associated with its pursuit of elite players.

The bigger financial battle could be over Osimhen’s contract. Al Hilal have previously offered the Nigerian packages worth around €30m to €40m per year, with one earlier proposal reported at about £1m a week. Osimhen rejected previous Saudi approaches because he wanted to continue playing in Europe. That decision is the key to the current negotiations.

Al Hilal are also working on Karim Benzema’s departure. Moving the former Real Madrid striker would help create space in the foreign-player registration list and free part of the wage budget for a new attacking star.

The timing also matters. Al Hilal want Osimhen to lead an attack capable of competing at the highest level in Saudi Arabia and on the international stage, while Galatasaray have to decide whether keeping their striker is more valuable than receiving a huge transfer fee.

Osimhen’s record in Turkey gives Al Hilal another reason to push hard. The Nigeria international has continued to score at a high rate for Galatasaray, strengthening his appeal as a proven No. 9 rather than a player being bought only on potential. The Saudi club can therefore solve the transfer-fee problem with money. It can also offer Osimhen a salary that Galatasaray would struggle to match.

But the final decision could still belong to the player. If Osimhen insists that European football is his priority, even a €150m offer may not be enough to complete the move. If he changes his mind, Al Hilal could have the financial strength to turn Galatasaray’s resistance into a much shorter negotiation.

Afrik-Foot verdict

Al Hilal have a realistic route to signing Osimhen, but the €150m question is not really about whether the Saudi club can afford him.

It is about whether Galatasaray want to sell and whether Osimhen wants to leave Europe. A €100m offer could open negotiations, while a figure closer to €150m could put enormous pressure on Galatasaray’s board. However, the absence of a release clause gives the Turkish champions control over the deal.

Al Hilal’s strongest weapon is therefore the combination of a huge salary for Osimhen and enough money to make Galatasaray seriously consider breaking its commitment to the striker.