Victor Osimhen says YES to shock Galatasaray transfer

Tom Weber

Updated: 3 Sept 2024 07:15 BST
3 min read

Victor Osimhen has given the green light for a transfer to Istanbul, according to Fabrizio Romano and Ben Jacobs.

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The Napoli striker is on his way to Istanbul. In a shocking and rapid turn of events, Osimhen has gone from looking set to not play football until January to being on the verge of signing for Galatasaray.

The Turkish giants only began talks over the 25-year-old earlier on Monday, but things developed rapidly. With Napoli keen to get rid of the wantaway striker, they quickly accepted Galatasaray's loan offer that will see the Super Lig side cover the vast majority of Osimhen's hefty salary.

The loan deal does not include any option or obligation to buy, but the Serie A club nevertheless agreed. Afterwards, Gala faced the daunting task of convincing Osimhen to join.

The striker had initially wanted to join PSG and then Chelsea, but the former baulked at Napoli's demands, while he could not agree terms with the latter.

Osimhens says yes to Galatasaray

Now, Fabrizio Romano and Ben Jacobs report that Osimhen has given the green light to a move to Galatasaray and that he could be on his way to Istanbul already tonight.

Final details still need to be ironed out but there appears to be optimism that the transfer will get over the line. Osimhen is specifically demanding a break clause for January so that he can join a more elite club should the opportunity present itself.

The player is, meanwhile, also in talks with Napoli over a new contract despite the relationship between the two parties reportedly being completely broken. The club want to extend his contract until 2027 to protect his value, while Osimhen wants his release clause to be reduced from €130 million to €75m.

However, Osimhen has already agreed to the Galatasaray transfer, so the hardest part of the story appears to have already been resolved.