Victor Osimhen to Barcelona: 2 hurdles to a January transfer

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen remains a target for Spanish La Liga giants Barcelona as they look to reinforce their attack in the January transfer window.

During the summer, the 27-year-old was heavily linked with the Catalans as they searched for a replacement for Robert Lewandowski, who left upon the expiration of his contract last season.

The rumors continued throughout the summer transfer window, even though Barcelona’s first choice was Atletico Madrid star Julián Álvarez.

Galatasaray's Victor Osimhen and Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez — Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen and Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez. (Photos by Imago)

Eventually, the move did not materialize, as Osimhen expressed his desire to stay at Galatasaray due to the hospitality he has enjoyed during his time there. Also, Galatasaray were adamant about not selling him, given that he is the team’s best player.

However, given Osimhen’s quality and the fact that Barcelona have yet to sign an established striker, the transfer talk will not die down anytime soon.

According to transfer expert Ekrem Konur, the reigning Spanish champions are considering a move for Osimhen in the January window. Even so, there are several factors to consider.

Why Victor Osimhen to Barcelona Might Not Work in January

Victor Osimhen of Galatasaray and Super Eagles — Victor Osimhen of Galatasaray. Copyright: ImagoxSeskimphoto

According to Ekrem Konur, two key hurdles would make a potential transfer for Victor Osimhen to Barcelona very difficult.

First, Osimhen appears unwilling to leave Rams Park and has not communicated any desire to depart to the club.

Victor Osimhen

Victor Osimhen net worth in 2026: How rich is the Super Eagles star?

Victor Osimhen is one of the best Nigerian players. See how much he’s worth

Read →

He is currently the highest-paid player at the club and the second-highest earner in Turkey behind Mohamed Salah. He earns upwards of €20 million a year in Istanbul, and Barcelona are unlikely to match that figure.

Additionally, the Turkish giants remain reluctant to let him go. He is undeniably the best player at the club and elevates the team’s overall performance whenever he is on the pitch.

Galatasaray have no other striker of his caliber, and the team’s level drops noticeably whenever he is absent.

For a transfer to succeed, both the player and the selling club must be open to the move. Since neither party is interested in facilitating a deal, a January departure appears highly improbable, barring any unexpected developments in the coming months.