By Jennifer Amarachi
Former Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen has joined Galatasaray after the former Italian champions and the player agreed on a loan deal on Monday.
After his unsuccessful move to Chelsea, the 25-year-old still has a chance of leaving Napoli before the Turkish transfer window ends on September 13.
The news was first reported by Italian publication Corriere dello Sport on Monday, and certain Nigerian sources connected to the player, including Wazobia FM OAP, Buchi Laba, and Sulaiman Adebayo, also known as Pooja, provided updates as the trade progressed.
Sky Sport Italia and RMC Sport also stated that Napoli granted the green light to a dry loan—without an option to buy—as long as Galatasaray funded his entire salary of approximately.
The alternative would have been for the Turkish club to pay a loan charge while sharing the earnings. Giovanni Manna, Napoli’s director of sport, also told Sports Digitale in Turkey, “It is correct to say we are in talks with Galatasaray and are close to reaching an agreement.”
According to Pooja Media, both teams also agreed that the player’s €130 million release clause might be activated by potential suitors in January 2025.
Before the summer transfer deadline last Friday, the EPL was Osimhen’s favorite destination, but the 25-year-old couldn’t bend his wage demands, with Chelsea offering him only €4 million per year plus €4 million in performance bonuses, compared to his €12 million yearly salary at Napoli.
Napoli was also claimed to have agreed
to a €70 million plus €10 million in bonuses with Al-Ahli, with the player receiving €40 million per season and, crucially, an inexpensive release clause for a return to Europe in the near future, but the Partenopei requested an additional €5 million, which annoyed the Saudis.
After both trades failed, Napoli were emphatic that he would not be welcomed back into the squad, and they also insist it was the Nigeria international who declared months ago he no longer wanted to play for them.
He will reconnect with old Partenopei teammate Dries Mertens in Istanbul. Although Osimhen desired a Champions League team, he will still be able to compete in the Europa League with Galatasaray, who face Tottenham Hotspur and Ajax in the campaign.
