Victor Osimhen is expected to arrive in Istanbul this week as Galatasaray prepare to unveil the Nigerian striker following the completion of his €75 million transfer from Napoli.
The long-awaited move is nearing its conclusion, with Galatasaray officials finalising paperwork to bring the prolific forward to Turkey. According to Turkish outlet Fanatik, club vice president Abdullah Kavukcu is scheduled to travel to Italy today (Tuesday) or Wednesday to complete the deal and is expected to return with Osimhen.
Galatasaray are planning to officially present Osimhen during their home fixture against Lazio on Saturday, August 2. The Turkish champions will pay Napoli €75m for the striker, with €40m upfront and the remaining €35m due by 2026. Osimhen will reportedly earn an annual salary of €16m with the Yellow-Reds.
The Super Eagles star enjoyed a stellar campaign last season, featuring in 41 matches and contributing 37 goals and eight assists.
In a recent video shared on a Nigerian YouTube channel, Osimhen reflected on his humble beginnings in Lagos, recalling how his family of nine lived in a single room.
“Most people who know me know I would have succeeded even without football. But the conditions where I grew up were far from encouraging,” he said.
“Many of my friends played football too, but when the field shut down, their dreams ended. I couldn’t let that happen to me. I went to different places to train and play.”
Osimhen revealed he had to temporarily quit football to take on menial jobs.
“For a few years, I stopped playing and worked jobs like carrying water. But I always knew my true calling was football,” he added.
Reflecting on his upbringing, he said:
“Where I come from, nothing is handed to you. You must fight for everything.”
Despite his rise to stardom and record-breaking move, Osimhen has also spoken openly about the downside of fame. In an interview shared on X by Instablog, he described fame as “boring,” revealing he once missed his daughter’s first outing due to the overwhelming attention from fans.
“Sometimes you just want to go outside, but you can’t do a lot of things,” Osimhen said, adding that he feels most at ease among ordinary people, even when accompanied by security.
“If I have my security and they are strapped, I’m good. I can be among these people. This is my life. This is how I live.”
The 26-year-old now looks forward to beginning a new chapter in Turkey, where he will spearhead Galatasaray’s bid for domestic and European success.
