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Galatasaray has officially secured Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen on a permanent deal after a drawn-out transfer saga with Napoli.
The transfer, worth $87 million, marks one of the most expensive acquisitions in Turkish football history and includes a number of strict contractual conditions, including a ban on any return to Serie A until 2027.
Galatasaray will pay $46.5 million upfront and an additional $40 million by the end of 2026, as confirmed by multiple outlets, including La Gazzetta dello Sport.
One of the most notable terms in the agreement is a two-year block on Osimhen's transfer to any Italian club. Should Galatasaray breach this clause, the Istanbul club would be required to pay double the total transfer fee.
Napoli will also receive a 10% to 15% share of any resale profit if Osimhen is sold for over $87 million in the future. However, journalist Alfredo Pedulla reports that Napoli will not be entitled to a percentage of future transfer fees under the current agreement.
Osimhen’s relationship with Napoli began to fracture after the 2022/23 season, despite his role in securing the club’s first Serie A title since 1990 and winning the Golden Boot with 26 goals.
He signed a lucrative extension in December 2023, becoming the highest-paid player in club history. However, injuries, a tense 2023/24 season, and Napoli’s rejection of a $170 million bid from Al Ahli widened the rift.
The striker joined Galatasaray on loan during the 2024/25 season.
Despite interest from the Premier League and offers from Saudi Arabia, Osimhen prioritised returning to Galatasaray, even turning down more lucrative proposals
The transfer was delayed for weeks over Napoli’s demand for a firm payment plan and guarantees.
Galatasaray initially offered $52.5 million upfront, tripling their original bid, to push the deal forward. As of July 18, Napoli granted Galatasaray until Monday, July 21, to submit the required bank guarantees.
With the Osimhen deal nearing official confirmation, Galatasaray have begun restructuring their squad to comply with the Turkish Football Federation’s foreign player quota.
According to multiple reports, head coach Okan Buruk submitted a detailed report recommending multiple departures, and the club has acted accordingly.
Five foreign players have been marked for exit:
Galatasaray is open to loan offers for Nelsson, Cuesta, Jelert, and Frankowski, while Morata has already reached an agreement with Serie A club Como, and the club will approve his departure.
Additionally, Nicolo Zaniolo’s status remains undecided. Club officials are expected to assess incoming offers before finalising a decision on the Italian midfielder’s future.
Galatasaray Sportif AS Vice President Abdullah Kavukcu praised the club’s persistence during the negotiations.
“No one believed in us when we started. Osimhen turned down offers with a $93 million- $105 million difference to join us. He prefers to continue with us. This shows what Galatasaray can achieve,” Kavukcu said during a fan event.
Kavukcu emphasised the club’s growing ambition and financial discipline, echoing President Dursun Ozbek’s earlier statement that Galatasaray would never take economic risks for any transfer.
What’s next for Osimhen?
Osimhen is expected to join Galatasaray’s training camp once the final paperwork is completed.
The club has yet to release an official statement, but all indications point to a formal unveiling early next week.
Napoli, for their part, have already excluded Osimhen from their pre-season camp and signed Lorenzo Lucca as his replacement.
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