Victor Osimhen’s stunning season with Galatasaray has placed him at the centre of Europe’s transfer spotlight, with top clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea, Barcelona, and Real Madrid reportedly monitoring his situation. After scoring 37 goals in 41 matches and helping Galatasaray to a Turkish Super Lig title, the Nigerian striker is expected to leave Napoli, where he has just one year remaining on his contract.
Osimhen’s parent club, Napoli, have already made it clear that he is not in manager Antonio Conte’s plans, increasing speculation about his next move. The 26-year-old’s prolific loan spell has reignited interest from major European clubs seeking a reliable, high-output forward.
Nigeria’s head coach Eric Chelle has decided to leave Osimhen out of the squad for Friday’s friendly match against Russia in Moscow, citing the striker’s transfer situation and need for rest after a high-pressure season.
“Victor is, for me, the best striker in the world,” Chelle told BBC Sport Africa. “It’s difficult for him to focus on international duty when the transfer window is open. He’s played under immense pressure all year, and now he needs to focus physically and mentally on the next step in his career.”
Chelle added that Osimhen’s mental state and the possibility of a big transfer made it necessary to protect him. “Maybe a club like Manchester United. Or maybe Chelsea, Barcelona or Real Madrid. So he needs to be focused on that.”
Osimhen’s goal-scoring prowess has not gone unnoticed. A Galatasaray fan campaign even saw a billboard in New York’s Times Square urging the striker to stay in Istanbul. However, a permanent move back to Turkey appears unlikely as Osimhen seeks a new challenge at the highest level.
Since bursting onto the scene by winning the Under-17 World Cup with Nigeria in 2015, Osimhen has carved out an impressive career path that has included stints in Germany with Wolfsburg, France with Lille, and now Turkey and Italy.
Internationally, Osimhen has 26 goals for Nigeria, making him the second-highest scorer in the Super Eagles’ history. He played a key role at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, leading Nigeria to a runners-up finish. More recently, his goals have revived the country’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign after a slow start.
“Nobody competes like Victor,” said Chelle. “He wants to win everything, even in training. When the session finishes, he wants to keep scoring. I think maybe even when he sleeps, he wants to score too.”
Despite Osimhen’s absence, Chelle is preparing his squad for a stern test in Moscow. Russia, still banned from competitive international football due to the country’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, will host Nigeria in a friendly as both sides look to maintain match sharpness.
“Russia is a great footballing nation,” Chelle noted. “They need these games just as much as we do. It’s difficult with the war situation, but they have a strong domestic league and great players. It’ll be a good test for us.”
Nigeria are coming off a successful Unity Cup campaign, where they beat Ghana 2-1 and overcame Jamaica on penalties in the final after a 2-2 draw. The Super Eagles now turn their attention to September’s World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and South Africa.
Currently six points behind Group C leaders Bafana Bafana, Chelle is using these friendlies to fine-tune his squad.
“We’re working for September,” he said. “Every game now is part of the preparation for our real objective—qualifying for the World Cup.”
As Osimhen’s next move draws closer, Nigeria’s supporters will hope the striker lands at a club that matches his ambition—and continues his record-breaking form on the world stage.
