Nigerian football star Victor Osimhen on July 31, 2025, finalized a record-breaking €75 million transfer from Napoli to Galatasaray, marking a seismic shift in European football transfer markets.
The deal, confirmed after months of negotiations, includes a €60 million upfront payment and €15 million in performance-based add-ons, surpassing Galatasaray’s previous record of €20 million for Radamel Falcao in 2019. Osimhen, aged 26, signed a four-year contract worth €12 million annually, lured by the club’s ambitious project under coach Okan Buruk and a chance to lead the attack in the UEFA Champions League.
The transfer follows Osimhen’s stellar 2023-24 season with Napoli, where he scored 26 goals to win the Serie A title, though his form dipped in 2024-25 amid transfer speculation linking him to Chelsea and PSG. Napoli’s sporting director, Giovanni Manna, cited financial restructuring as the reason for the sale, with the club reinvesting €40 million into youth prospects.
Fans in Istanbul greeted Osimhen with a 50,000-strong welcome at Rams Park, but analysts question whether Galatasaray’s Turkish Super Lig dominance, winning the title in 2024-25, can translate to European success against richer clubs. The narrative of a career-defining move is thrilling, yet its success will depend on Osimhen’s adaptation and the club’s financial sustainability.