Victor Osimhen has completed a one-season loan move to Galatasaray after being sidelined from Napoli’s Serie A squad.
Napoli’s director, Giovanni Manna, confirmed last month that Osimhen requested a transfer from the club, which he played a key role in leading to a Scudetto victory in the 2022-23 season.
Osimhen had been linked with Chelsea and Al-Ahli, but negotiations stalled due to Chelsea’s reluctance to meet his wage demands and his own hesitation to move to Saudi Arabia.
Initially, it seemed Osimhen might have to remain inactive for four months before seeking a new opportunity, but Galatasaray stepped in just before the Turkish Super Lig transfer window closed on September 13.
The Istanbul club will cover Osimhen’s entire salary, and the loan agreement includes a break clause in January.
In their announcement, Galatasaray confirmed that no loan fee would be paid for Osimhen, who will earn a salary of €6 million.
Napoli has also reportedly agreed with Osimhen to lower his release clause from €130 million to €80 million, paving the way for a future transfer.
Additionally, Napoli has secured an option to extend Osimhen’s contract, which currently runs until 2026, by an additional 12 months to protect his market value if a sale cannot be arranged next year.
Since joining Napoli from Lille in 2020, Osimhen has scored 65 league goals, placing him 12th on the club’s all-time Serie A scoring list. Despite an injury-plagued 2023-24 season, he managed to net 15 times, following a 26-goal performance that helped Napoli claim their first Serie A title since the Diego Maradona era.
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