When Victor Osimhen arrived at Galatasaray in September 2024, there was an air of excitement and optimism. The Turkish giants, already strong contenders for the Super Lig title, were looking to make a deep run in the UEFA Europa League, and the Nigerian striker was seen as the missing piece in their attack.
The club reportedly agreed to cover around €9-10 million of his salary, making him the highest-paid player alongside Mauro Icardi. With that kind of financial investment, the expectation was clear, Osimhen was brought in to deliver European success.
Fast forward to five months, and the reality is far from what Galatasaray fans had envisioned. The club’s humiliating 6-3 aggregate loss to AZ Alkmaar in the knockout playoffs has left supporters frustrated.
Osimhen may have found the net in the second leg, but his performances across the campaign raise serious questions about his efficiency in front of goal.
Missed chances haunt Victor Osimhen’s campaign
Despite his reputation as a clinical striker, Osimhen’s Europa League campaign has been anything but convincing.
Across six group-stage matches, the 26-year-old missed a staggering 18 big chances, more than any other player in the competition this season.
For a forward expected to lead Galatasaray’s charge, his 12% goal conversion rate has simply not been good enough.Those numbers paint the picture of a striker who, rather than elevating his team, has been part of their downfall.
In the group stage, Osimhen’s inability to convert clear-cut opportunities left Galatasaray fighting for survival instead of comfortably securing qualification. Instead of leading them to the last 16, he left them battling in the playoffs, where they eventually crashed out.
Even in the return leg against AZ Alkmaar, where he scored, fans and pundits were left baffled when manager Okan Buruk substituted him in the 80th minute.
Many felt Galatasaray could still push for a late winner, but the damage had already been done. The team’s lack of fight was evident, and Osimhen, despite his efforts, couldn’t change their fate.
A high salary but no impact, Victor Osimhen must take responsibility
Osimhen isn’t just another squad player. Galatasaray are paying him €192,308 per week, matching club captain Mauro Icardi as the joint-highest earner.
The gap between him and the second-highest-paid player, Davinson Sánchez (€102,500 per week), is staggering. This is a player expected to deliver when it matters most, not one whose mistakes cost the club a deep European run.
Winning the Turkish Süper Lig was always within reach for Galatasaray. The real reason they brought Osimhen in was for a serious Europa League challenge, ideally pushing for a semi-final or even a final. Instead, he exits the competition with a reputation battered by his inefficiency in front of goal.
Some will argue that he tried his best. But elite strikers aren’t judged on effort alone; they are judged on outcomes. Galatasaray did their part by making him the highest-paid player in the squad. Osimhen, in return, failed to deliver.
Instead of celebrating his consolation goal against AZ Alkmaar, Galatasaray fans should be questioning whether his signing was an expensive mistake.
