Victor Osimhen: How UK government policy is the biggest obstacle to Chelsea, Arsenal, Man Utd transfer

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Victor Osimhen has always dreamed of the Premier League. As a teenager in Olusosun, he wore his blue Chelsea shirt, idolising Didier Drogba and imagining himself scoring under the lights at Stamford Bridge. 

That dream, however, now finds itself at odds with hard financial reality, one where the UK tax system could prove more challenging than any centre-back he’s faced.

The two-time UEFA Champions League winners made their move last summer. They were determined to sign Osimhen but stumbled at the final hurdle, not over the transfer fee, but his wages. 

Victor Osimhen: How UK government policy is the biggest obstacle to Chelsea, Arsenal transfer
Photo by IMAGO

Their proposal was said to be €4m as an initial annual salary, but doubled if the Blues were to qualify for the 2025/2026 UEFA Champions League.

Instead, Osimhen passed and decided to spend the 2024/25 season in Turkey, on loan at Galatasaray. There, he reminded Europe of his class 36 goals and 7 assists in 38 appearances, a league title, a Turkish Cup, and a Super Cup to boot. As he flourished, whispers of a Premier League move refuse to fade.

Osimhen’s wage demands run into Premier League tax walls

Chelsea and Manchester United remain keen, but the numbers aren’t easy to ignore. In the UK, footballers earning over £125,000 annually are taxed at 45%, with additional National Insurance deductions further shrinking take-home pay.

For Osimhen to earn his desired £9.4 million per year after tax, roughly what he’s on at Napoli, an English club would need to offer a gross salary in the region of £17–18 million. That would place him well above Chelsea’s current highest earner, Reece James, who earns £250,000 a week, or about £13 million per year gross, retaining roughly 55% after tax.

Meeting the former Lille youngster’s demands would mean not just breaking Chelsea’s wage structure but tearing it up entirely. Last summer, that financial gap was reportedly a deal-breaker, even before talks advanced.

Victor Osimhen: How UK government policy is the biggest obstacle to Chelsea, Arsenal transfer
Photo by IMAGO

And with the club still under the microscope for Profit and Sustainability Rule compliance across the 2021–2025 accounting period, there’s little room to maneuver.

At Manchester United, the story is similar. The club are working to trim their bloated wage bill and have begun targeting younger, less expensive forwards. Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap, for instance, is reportedly under consideration as a more manageable option.

In Italy where his parent club are, foreign footballers often benefit from tax exemptions and flat-rate regimes. In England, there are no such loopholes. The wage demands that seem routine in Serie A become untenable under HMRC’s gaze.

So the boy who once idolised Drogba may need to find his kingdom outside England, unless one of his suitors decides to tear up their wage structure and take a gamble. 

<!-- Author Start -->Toyosi Afolayan<!-- Author End -->

Toyosi Afolayan

Sports Writer

Toyosi Afolayan is a sports journalist who breathes life into the games we love. He loves to combine insightful analysis with historical background, creating a richer understanding of sports.