Osimhen Tottenham transfer: Meet the Nigeria international who already made Spurs history

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen could still become the latest Nigerian star to make a major move to Tottenham Hotspur, Afrik-Foot reports.

However, the Galatasaray forward cannot become the first Nigeria international to wear the club’s famous white shirt.

That honour already belongs to John Okechukwu Chiedozie, the Owerri-born winger who joined Spurs more than four decades ago and played alongside some of English football’s biggest names of the 1980s.

Osimhen’s possible move would therefore be about adding another chapter to Nigerian history at Tottenham, not creating the first one.

Tottenham’s Osimhen interest: Spurs want a proven No. 9

Tottenham have pushed forward with interest in Osimhen as Roberto De Zerbi looks to reshape the club’s attack.

The 27-year-old striker, who rejected the chance to be Galatasaray’s captain, has become one of Europe’s most dangerous forwards. His goals in Turkey and previous success with Napoli have made him an attractive target for a Spurs side looking for a powerful No. 9.

Tottenham’s first reported approach was worth around £55 million. Galatasaray, however, placed a much higher value on their star striker and rejected the proposal. Other European clubs, including Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Manchester United, have also been linked with attempts to sign him.

Osimhen’s numbers explain why Spurs are interested. He scored 41 goals in 52 league appearances for Galatasaray, giving him the kind of goal record Tottenham would want from the centre of their attack.

De Zerbi’s system also makes the Nigerian a natural fit. His teams demand aggressive pressing from the front, while Osimhen’s pace, strength and willingness to chase defenders can turn the first line of pressure into an attacking weapon.

The problem is the price. Galatasaray have no reason to rush into a sale after securing Osimhen on a permanent deal. His contract runs until June 2029, giving the Turkish club a strong negotiating position. Spurs would also have to consider Osimhen’s salary and how his arrival would affect their existing attacking options.

That combination of transfer fee, wages and squad changes makes the deal difficult even before Tottenham can put the Nigerian striker in a Spurs shirt.

But there is another reason Osimhen cannot claim the historic first. His name has already been preceded by another Nigerian.

Chiedozie made history before Osimhen was born

John Chiedozie arrived at Tottenham in August 1984, when Osimhen’s parents had not even begun the story that would eventually produce Nigeria’s modern-day goal machine.

Spurs paid £375,000 to sign the winger from Notts County after three productive seasons at Meadow Lane. Chiedozie had built a reputation as a quick and direct attacker, and Tottenham manager Peter Shreeves brought him to White Hart Lane to add pace to the team’s forward line.

His Spurs debut could hardly have been better. On August 25, 1984, Chiedozie started against Everton at Goodison Park. Tottenham won 4-1, and the Nigerian scored the third goal in the 52nd minute. Clive Allen scored twice, while Mark Falco also found the net. That was not simply a memorable first appearance. It was the beginning of a four-year spell in which a Nigerian international became part of Tottenham’s first-team story.

Chiedozie also played European football with Spurs. He featured in the 1984-85 UEFA Cup campaign, including Tottenham’s first-round meetings with Sporting Braga. Spurs won the first leg 3-0 in Portugal before completing a 9-0 aggregate victory with a 6-0 win in London.

His league record shows that his time in North London was more than a brief cameo. Sporting Heroes records 45 league appearances plus eight substitute appearances and 12 league goals, while wider club records credit him with 75 appearances and 14 goals in all competitions during his Tottenham spell.

Chiedozie’s international career

Born in Owerri on April 18, 1960, Chiedozie represented Nigeria and earned nine senior caps, scoring two goals. National Football Teams records him as a Tottenham player in Nigeria’s 1984 squad, confirming that he was a Nigeria international while playing for Spurs.

His career had started at Leyton Orient, where he developed as an apprentice and eventually made 145 appearances. He then moved to Notts County in 1981 for £600,000, a major fee at the time, and scored 15 goals in 111 appearances before Tottenham came calling.

Injuries later disrupted his Tottenham career and reduced his opportunities. Chris Waddle’s arrival also changed the competition for places in the attack. Chiedozie eventually left Spurs in 1988 for Derby County. Yet his place in Nigerian football history was already secure.

That means a Tottenham move for Osimhen would carry plenty of significance, but the record book would not need a new first. Chiedozie had already opened that door in 1984. If Osimhen eventually walks onto the pitch at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium wearing the famous white shirt, he would be following a path first taken by a Nigerian winger from Owerri more than 40 years ago.