Victor Osimhen to Man United: Full financial breakdown of a potential €200m deal

Manchester United’s long-standing search for an elite centre-forward has repeatedly brought Victor Osimhen into the conversation, Afrik-Foot reports.

The Tottenham-linked Nigeria international has established himself as one of the best strikers in Europe after starring for Lille, Napoli and now Galatasaray. However, signing him would require far more than simply agreeing on a transfer fee.

The Red Devils would have to navigate one of the biggest financial commitments in modern football. Between Galatasaray’s asking price, Osimhen’s expected wages, agent commissions and the Premier League’s financial regulations, the total cost of the deal could exceed £200 million (€236.5 million) over five years.

With INEOS continuing to reshape Manchester United’s finances under chief executive Omar Berrada, any move for the Super Eagles striker would demand careful planning rather than a quick spending spree.

What would it cost Manchester United to sign Osimhen?

Galatasaray paid €75 million (£64.3m) to sign Osimhen permanently from Napoli last year, but convincing the Turkish champions to sell so soon would be extremely expensive.

Club officials are believed to value the striker at between €100 million and €120 million, meaning United would likely need to submit an opening offer of around €100 million (£85.8m) before negotiations could even begin.

However, the transfer fee is only the beginning. A realistic five-year deal would include a transfer fee of €100m (£85.8m), five-year wages of about €121.5m (£104m) as well as agent fees and signing bonuses close to €15m (£12.85m) for a total commitment of roughly €236.5m (£202.65m).

Although the transfer fee would be paid over time, accounting rules mean it would still appear on United’s books through annual amortisation. An £85.8 million transfer spread across five years creates an annual accounting cost of approximately £17.16 million.

Osimhen’s salary presents another major challenge. The Nigerian reportedly earns around €21 million net annually in Turkey through wages, image rights and bonuses. To convince him to move to England without reducing his earnings, Manchester United would probably have to offer around £400,000 per week gross, equivalent to roughly £20.8 million annually.

That would immediately make Osimhen the club’s highest-paid player, moving him above Marcus Rashford and captain Bruno Fernandes, who reportedly earn around £300,000 per week.

Large transfers also include significant payments to agents and signing bonuses. Those costs are estimated at approximately £12.85 million (€15m), adding another financial layer to an already expensive operation. When everything is combined, the annual financial impact on United’s accounts would be around £40.53 million.

Why Manchester United may need major player sales

The biggest obstacle may not be the transfer fee itself but complying with football’s financial regulations.

The Premier League has now replaced the old Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) with the Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) system. Clubs competing in the UEFA Champions League, including Manchester United after their third-place finish last season, must ensure total squad costs stay within 70% of football-related revenue.

Squad costs include player wages, transfer amortisation and agent fees. Although United have improved their finances under INEOS, reducing costs and returning an operating profit of £37.7 million, reports suggest the club’s existing wage bill and previous transfer commitments already consume much of the available financial space.

Adding Osimhen’s estimated £40.53 million annual cost would make compliance extremely difficult without first reducing other expenses.

Another complication is taxation. Turkey’s tax system allows players to keep more of their earnings than they would in the United Kingdom. To provide Osimhen with similar take-home pay in England, United could reportedly need to pay between £600,000 and £660,000 per week gross, an amount that would significantly exceed the club’s current wage structure.

Galatasaray are also in a strong negotiating position regarding Osimhen, even if he is now open to leaving the club. Having only recently secured Osimhen on a permanent deal running until June 2029, the Turkish champions have little reason to accept a discounted offer. Reports have suggested they have already rejected player-plus-cash proposals from other clubs while maintaining a valuation of up to €120 million.

If Manchester United genuinely want to complete the transfer, significant departures may become unavoidable.

Experienced midfielder Casemiro, who reportedly earned £350,000 per week, has already left, removing approximately £18.2 million from the annual wage bill.

Marcus Rashford could also become a key figure in any financial reshuffle. As a Manchester United academy graduate, any transfer fee received for him would count as immediate profit in the club’s accounts while also eliminating his reported £300,000-per-week salary. Additional departures involving players such as Harry Maguire or Mason Mount could further reduce the wage bill and create extra financial flexibility.

At the moment, Manchester United’s interest in Osimhen remains possible but financially complicated. Unless INEOS successfully reduces the club’s squad costs through player sales and wage savings, bringing Africa’s number-one centre-forward to Old Trafford could remain more of an ambition than an achievable transfer.