Galatasaray slap €140m transfer fee on Victor Osimhen amid Barcelona interest

Turkish Super Lig champions Galatasaray have reportedly set an astronomical over €140 million valuation on star striker Victor Osimhen, effectively warning off potential suitors like FC Barcelona who have recently shown interest. 

The audacious price tag, confirmed by Turkish sources like Peşindeyiz Galatasaray! and BPT, signifies the club's determination to retain the 26-year-old Nigerian international following his record-breaking permanent move this past summer. The valuation significantly exceeds the club’s initial reported target of €150 million.

The massive asking price is a direct response to renewed interest in the prolific forward, particularly from Spanish giants Barcelona, who are reportedly eyeing Osimhen as a long-term successor to Robert Lewandowski. 

Osimhen joined Galatasaray permanently from Napoli ahead of the 2025-26 season for a Turkish league-record fee of €75 million (approx. £66 million), signing a long-term contract until 2029.

Osimhen’s sensational form has made him indispensable. Since linking up with the Lions from Napoli, he has shattered scoring records, netting 42 goals in 49 appearances for the club, including critical strikes in the UEFA Champions League, such as the winner against Liverpool.

The forward's commercial impact has also been significant, reportedly generating approximately €31 million for the club through Champions League performance bonuses and record-breaking kit sales.

Barcelona's pursuit of Osimhen, who is Nigeria's most valuable player in the world, comes at a time when the club continues to navigate significant financial constraints. 

While the Catalan side has listed the Nigerian as a top target, meeting a €140 million fee for a player they considered a target back when he was at Napoli would severely strain their budget. 

The price tag puts Osimhen on par with transfer figures for stars like Enzo Fernandez or Declan Rice, a level rarely seen for a player moving from the Turkish Süper Lig. 

The €140 million figure has multiple implications: it solidifies Galatasaray’s status as a major European player capable of retaining world-class talent, boosts the commercial profile of the Turkish Süper Lig, and serves as a financial deterrent to all but the wealthiest clubs in the Premier League, La Liga, and Ligue 1. 

For Barcelona, the focus may now shift to more financially viable options, or they will be forced to offload high-value players to fund an approach.

While the football world expects high negotiations for a striker of Osimhen's quality, Galatasaray's firm nine-figure valuation makes a near-future transfer highly unlikely. 

But regardless of what happens, the club has drawn a clear line in the sand: only a world-record or near-record fee will tempt them to part with their key asset.