Galatasaray complete loan signing of Napoli cast-off Osimhen

Galatasaray have completed the loan signing of Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen from Napoli.

The 25-year-old went into deadline day last week as a target for both Al-Ittihad and Chelsea but a deal failed to materialise.

Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets

Valid Today: 4 September 2024

18+ New Customers Only. Opt in and bet £10 (odds 2.00+) within 3 days of sign up. No cash-out. Get 3x£10 Free Bets for set markets (odds 2.0+) which expire in 5 days. Cards and Apple Pay payments only. Scroll down for T&Cs. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly Click for T&Cs

Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad instead signed Ivan Toney from Brentford while Chelsea’s attempts to broker a late switch to Stamford Bridge ended in disappointment.

By then Osimhen had burned his bridges at Napoli and was stripped of a squad number.

With the Turkish transfer window still open, Galatasaray made their move and Osimhen has joined on a season-long loan deal that reportedly has a break clause in January if one of Europe’s big guns come calling.

A Galatasaray statement read: “An agreement has been reached with professional football player Victor James Osimhen and his club SS Napoli on the free temporary transfer of the player.

“The football player will be paid a net season salary of 6,000,000 euros for the 2024-2025 season.”

Masquerade with a special guest. 🎭

Osimhen is here. #WelcomeToGalaOsimhen pic.twitter.com/GW9MDFmmyc

— Galatasaray EN (@Galatasaray) September 4, 2024

It has also been reported that Napoli retain an option to extend Osimhen’s contract until 2027 if they can’t complete a sale by next summer – effectively keeping his value high.

Osimhen joined Napoli from Lille in 2020 and has thrived in Italy, scoring 76 goals in 133 games in all competitions and helping the club end their long drought for the Serie A title in the 2022/23 campaign.