As expected, Galatasaray has made a big splash in Turkey, signing Victor Osimhen (26) in what is by far the most expensive transfer in Süper Lig history.
The reigning Turkish champions have once again stolen the show from their rivals on the Bosporus. While Besiktas (with Tammy Abraham) and Fenerbahce (with Jhon Duran) made waves this summer with big-name strikers, Galatasaray has now gone one better by signing Victor Osimhen on a permanent deal.
And how: While Besiktas and Fener had to “make do” with loans, the reigning double winners are putting the big money on the table. To finally pry Osimhen, who is still under contract with Italian champions Napoli for another season, away from his club, Galatasaray is paying €75 million. Forty million of that will likely be transferred to southern Italy immediately, with another €35 million to follow in a year. In addition to an officially confirmed ten percent resale share, Napoli is also said to have secured a “goal bonus” linked to certain figures.
This smashes the previous SüperLig record transfer fee of €19.5 million paid by Fenerbahçe for Youssef En-Nesyri last summer.
A princely salary on the Bosporus
Osimhen, who apparently cannot be sold to another Italian club for two years, has signed a four-year contract until June 30, 2029, and will be handsomely rewarded with €21 million per season in salary and transfer of image rights, according to official club statements. Osimhen reportedly turned down an even more lucrative move to Al-Hilal for the opportunity to play in Istanbul.
Napoli paid a total of just under €80 million in September 2020 to sign the striker from Lille. Osimhen scored 65 goals in 108 Serie A appearances and won the long-awaited Scudetto with Napoli in 2023. In the summer of 2024, however, Osimhen fell out with the club and coach Antonio Conte, who did not even register the player for the Serie A squad.
Alongside new signing Sané
This was followed by a “forced” loan move to Istanbul – and it was not just to be the expected stopgap. Osimhen quickly settled in, scoring 26 goals and setting up five more in 30 league games. The lanky striker was instrumental in securing the club’s third consecutive league title. He then scored twice in the cup final against Trabzonspor (3-0).
37 goals and eight assists in 41 competitive games were enough for Galatasaray fans to completely fall in love with the former Wolfsburg player (14 Bundesliga appearances) within a single season. Together with Leroy Sané, Osimhen is expected to cause a stir in Europe in the new season.
