Why Osimhen will not join Chelsea – 2 things you should know

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Super Eagles and Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen continues to face uncertainty over his long term future despite another outstanding season in Turkey, Afrik-Foot reports.

The Nigerian forward has become one of the most sought after forwards in Europe, with several top clubs monitoring his situation ahead of the new season.

Osimhen joined Galatasaray from Napoli in 2024 and has enjoyed a remarkable spell at the Turkish giants. The 27-year-old has scored 59 goals in 74 appearances across all competitions, helping the club win two Turkish Super Lig titles and one Turkish Cup.

His impressive form has attracted interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Paris Saint-Germain.

Super Eagles and Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen
Super Eagles and Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen. Copyright: xBSRxAgencyxImago

Osimhen open to Premier League move

Galatasaray have resisted interest in Osimhen throughout the summer, while the striker has also expressed his happiness at the club.

However, a recent report from The Hard Tackle claims the Super Eagles star is open to a move to the Premier League if the right opportunity presents itself and his representative are also said to be exploring the possibility of a move to England.

A switch to the Premier League would see Osimhen finally test himself in one of the world’s biggest leagues, with several clubs linked with his signature.

Although Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea have all been mentioned as potential destinations, there are two major reasons why a move to Stamford Bridge appears unlikely.

Victor Osimhen of Galatasaray
Victor Osimhen of Galatasaray. Copyright: ImagoxSeskimphotox GSaray

The cost of the transfer

Galatasaray are reportedly demanding around €150 million before they would consider selling Osimhen this summer.

While Chelsea have the financial strength to complete big transfers, they have already spent heavily during the current transfer window. Meeting Galatasaray’s asking price, along with Osimhen’s huge wage demands, would make the deal extremely difficult.

The Blues have already invested heavily in new signings, including Morgan Rogers and Marco Palestra and would not be able to commit another massive fee for Osimhen in order to avoid breaching financial fair play regulations.

For that reason, matching both the transfer fee and salary package required for the Nigerian striker may not be realistic.

Chelsea already have plenty of attacking options

Another reason a move appears unlikely is Chelsea’s current attacking depth. Osimhen is one of the world’s best strikers and would naturally expect to become the club’s first choice centre forward immediately.

However, Chelsea already have several attacking options in the squad. The Blues recently signed Danny Welbeck and also have Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Nicolas Jackson and Emmanuel Emegha among their forward options.

Even if some departures happen before the transfer window closes, Chelsea would still have too many options in attack. With fewer matches to play next season because they are not involved in European competition, adding another high profile striker may not be a priority.

Chelsea would ordinarily be an attractive destination for Osimhen, but the circumstances surrounding the club make a move increasingly unlikely. That could leave Manchester United and Arsenal as stronger contenders if the Nigerian decides to leave Galatasaray before the end of the transfer window.

Victor Osimhen and Ivan Juric
Victor Osimhen and Ivan Juric. Copyright: Imago

Ultimately, any transfer will depend on whether a club is willing to meet Galatasaray’s valuation. If that happens, Osimhen could finally realize his long standing ambition of playing in the Premier League and begin the next chapter of his career.

<!-- Author Start -->Ayomide Oguntimehin<!-- Author End -->

Ayomide Oguntimehin

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Ayomide Oguntimehin is a CAF-accredited sports journalist and Editor at Soccernet.ng & Afrik Foot. Ayomide has worked with Sports Brief, Naija News and served as Social Lead Editor at Legit.ng. He has also featured on Goal, TVC News, Sports Mole, Topmercato, and Milan News24, among others. He holds a master’s degree and is currently pursuing a PhD. Follow Ayomide on X: @ayo_oguntimehin.