Osimhen stays at Galatasaray: 3 targets Super Eagles star must achieve next

Victor Osimhen, it appears, has decided to stay at Galatasaray after a summer of strong interest from Arsenal, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid, Afrik-Foot reports.

The Nigerian international had been linked with a move to the Premier League, but French outlet Foot Mercato reported that he now plans to continue in Istanbul.

The decision could have been helped by Galatasaray’s plan to bring Rafael Leão from AC Milan. Yahoo Sports reports that the Portuguese winger’s expected arrival played a key role in Osimhen’s choice. It is believed that Leão had said goodbye to Milan amid reports of a €50 million move to Galatasaray. The deal would add another major attacking player to Okan Buruk’s squad.

That could give Osimhen a new attacking partner who can create chances from wide areas and carry the ball at speed. Leão scored 80 goals and provided 65 assists in 291 appearances for Milan, so Galatasaray would not be adding an ordinary winger.

It also changes the picture around Osimhen. Instead of seeing his future in Istanbul as a short stop before another move, the 27-year-old now has a chance to lead a squad being built to compete in Turkey and Europe.

Osimhen has started the new season in a way that makes the decision look logical. He scored twice in the 2-2 draw with newly promoted Çorum FK on Aug. 14, including a 90th-minute equaliser, then scored twice and provided an assist in the 4-0 win at Erzurumspor on Aug. 21. He has four league goals after two matches.

Osimhen’s next targets at Galatasaray

1. Win another Turkish league title

Galatasaray have set the standard in Turkey. The club won the 2025-26 Süper Lig title with one match still to play, finishing three points ahead of Fenerbahçe. It was the club’s 26th league championship and its fourth in a row.

Osimhen was central to the latest title. He scored 15 league goals in only 22 appearances, despite missing several matches. His previous league season was even stronger, with 26 goals in 30 games as Galatasaray won the 2024-25 title.

The next target should be another championship, but Osimhen can raise the standard by pushing towards a 20-goal league season. He has already scored four times in two games, so a strong start is in place.

A third straight league campaign with at least 20 goals would make his impact harder to ignore and help Galatasaray extend their control of Turkish football.

2. Take Galatasaray deeper in the Champions League

Europe offers Osimhen a tougher challenge. Galatasaray reached the Champions League round of 16 last season for the first time in 12 years. Osimhen scored seven goals in 10 matches, including a hat trick in a 3-0 win at Ajax and the extra-time goal that completed a 5-2 aggregate win over Juventus in the knockout play-off.

The next step should be the quarterfinals. Galatasaray now know their eight league-phase opponents: Barcelona (H), Paris Saint-Germain (A), Aston Villa (H), Sporting CP (A), Feyenoord (H), Lille (A), Stuttgart (H), and AEK Athens (A). The league phase starts on September 8, with the final set for Madrid’s Estadio Metropolitano on June 5, 2027.

That schedule gives Osimhen several major stages. Barcelona is especially interesting after the Spanish club tried to sign him this summer. Scoring against the reigning La Liga champions would add another chapter to a transfer story that has dominated his summer.

3. Push his personal records higher

Osimhen already has a strong European record. The former Lille man is Nigeria’s all-time leading Champions League scorer with 16 goals. He is also the first Nigerian to reach 16 in the competition. His next Champions League target is 20 goals.

There is also room to improve his Galatasaray numbers. Osimhen has scored 59 goals in his first 74 games for the club across all competitions, making him the third most prolific foreigner in the history of the Lions. His current form suggests that figure could rise quickly.

The league also offers a clear target. Osimhen won the 2024-25 Süper Lig Golden Boot with 26 goals. The Turkish record for a single season is 33, set by Burak Yılmaz in 2011-12. Reaching 30 league goals would put Osimhen close to that mark. Breaking 30 would turn his next season from another productive campaign into a record chase.

With Leão potentially joining, Galatasaray could give Osimhen more quality around him. His task is now to turn that stronger attack into trophies, Champions League progress and numbers that force his name deeper into Galatasaray’s history.