Transfer News: Osimhen saga ends as the Nigerian striker joins Galatasaray

Victor Osimhen joins Galatasaray on loan after a tense summer saga with Napoli, leaving behind strained relations and a potential €75M release clause.

Victor Osimhen has joined Galatasaray from Napoli on a season long loan with the Turkish champions covering his entire wages. (Photo credit: GOAL)

The most talked-about transfer saga of the 2024 summer window has finally come to an end, a bit of an anticlimax but a happy ending for both parties as Victor Osimhen joins Galatasaray on loan.

After a summer of unsuccessful bids from Chelsea and interest from PSG, new manager Antonio Conte ostracized the Nigerian striker from the Napoli team, ending the saga, albeit temporarily, until the end of the season.

There were slight hiccups on Monday as Osimhen and his entourage refused to travel; they wanted certain clauses included in the deal taking him to Turkey, especially the one that allows him to leave in January if a suitable offer arrives.

Top clubs could trigger a €75 million release clause on the Nigerian in the winter window or next summer, but Napoli also found innovative ways to retain the rights to extend his contract at Naples beyond 2026.

Considering the staggering €10 million wage they must cover for a whole year, Galatasaray's ability to negotiate this deal is impressive; their offer surpasses the ridiculous offers Chelsea consistently made on transfer deadline day.

How did Osimhen's tenure at Napoli go awry? The Nigerian, who was once the club's darling after leading them to their first Scudetto in decades, now faces intense pressure to leave. His declaration in an interview earlier this year that he won't be playing for Napoli next season further intensified the situation.

After missing the spot last season, the club’s social media handle posted a video that appeared to mock the striker. His response was to delete all Napoli-related pictures and videos on his personal social media accounts, and it felt like an irreparable relationship from there on.