The saga of the summer – the Victor Osimhen transfer – has finally reached a definitive conclusion. The Turkish club have announced the acquisition of the Super Eagles striker on a season-long loan.
The Nigeria international arrived in Istanbul early Tuesday morning, where he underwent medical examinations. On Wednesday, he put pen to paper, signing off on the transfer after all terms were agreed and put forward in writing.
Galatasaray's announcement followed shortly afterward, with an official statement reading: ‘An agreement has been reached with professional footballer Victor James Osimhen and his club SSCN Napoli SPA on the temporary transfer of the player free of charge.'
Throughout the summer transfer window, the Osimhen transfer situation was strongly rumoured to be Chelsea, with the likes of Al-Ahli, Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), also indicating varying levels of interest at different points.
However, negotiations with the London giants failed to materialise, and despite reaching an agreement with the Saudi club, that transfer failed to materialise as well.
In the end, Galatasaray stepped in, and have secured the services of the reigning CAF Player of the Year until the end of the 2024/25 season.
What is Osimhen's salary at Galatasaray?
Per the official statement released by Galatasaray, Victor Osimhen will earn a salary of €6 million net over the duration of his one-year loan, a figure that comes out to €125,000 per week.
The significance of Osimhen's jersey number
The 25-year-old striker has selected the jersey number 45 as he embarks on his new journey with the reigning Turkish champions.
Osimhen's journey with the number 45 jersey began during a pivotal phase of his career at Sporting Charleroi.
After a challenging start in European football with VfL Wolfsburg, where he failed to score in 16 appearances, Osimhen sought a fresh opportunity on loan with the Belgian club.
Wearing number 45, the striker made a memorable debut on September 22, scoring his first professional goal with a remarkable backheel against Waasland-Beveren.
This goal marked the beginning of a transformative period for the young striker, who went on to net 12 goals in 25 appearances for Charleroi.
His standout performances in Belgium were instrumental in reviving his career and opened doors to further success in Europe, leading to significant moves to Lille and Napoli.
Okan Buruk on influencing Osimhen transfer to Galatasaray
In discussing his successful recruitment of Osimhen, Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk shared insights into his approach.
“I have a style and a method, like a video chat with a footballer on the phone… I spoke to Osimhen and he was convinced,” Buruk told Turkish outlet Milliyet.
“He found it very exciting to come to Galatasaray. I already had the idea of playing with a double striker. Such an opportunity should not be missed.”
