Victor Osimhen: Nigerian striker whose €75m Galatasaray move rewrote Turkish transfer history

Victor Osimhen’s transfer from Napoli to Galatasaray in the summer of 2025 was one of the biggest statements of the window. Victor Osimhen’s €75m Galatasaray deal cemented him among Africa’s elite transfers. Check out his ranking in our full list.

1. VfL Wolfsburg (2017/2019): The move to Wolfsburg marked his first sojourn into European football. However, he has limited opportunities.

2. Loan to Royal Charleroi (2018/2019): The Belgian side took a chance on him, despite his injury status. This was his breakout season, in which he scored 20 goals in 36 matches.

3. LOSC Lille (2019/2020): Lille was where he first showed he can rub shoulders with the best. He had an immediate impact in Ligue 1, scoring 8 goals in all competitions, which helped secure a move to Napoli.

4. SSC Napoli (2020/2025): Osimhen was Napoli’s club record signing, joining for a reported €70 million. At Naples, he developed into one of Europe’s elite strikers, winning the Serie A and Cappocannoniere.

5. Loan to Galatasaray (2024/25 season): Before the permanent deal, Osimhen spent a season on loan at Galatasaray, where he enjoyed a phenomenal campaign.

Galatasaray completed a permanent transfer for Osimhen from Napoli in July 2025, worth €75 million, making it the biggest incoming transfer in Turkish football history.

Osimhen had already spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Galatasaray, producing outstanding numbers (37 goals and 8 assists in 41 matches across all competitions) and impact, winning the domestic double, which pushed the club to make the move permanent.

Galatasaray arranged payments in instalments rather than a single lump sum. €40 million of the agreed €75 million was paid upfront, while the remaining €35 million is to be spread out across two separate payments.

Statements from both clubs note a 10% share for Napoli on any future profit from a subsequent transfer (i.e., Napoli gets 10% of the profit above the fee).

Given that Galatasaray are listed on the Turkish stock exchange, the exact wages and bonuses paid to Osimhen are public knowledge. They stated that he receives €15 million net per season, plus a €1 million annual loyalty bonus and €5 million per year in image rights payments, totalling an annual net package of around €21 million.

The €75m fee shatters previous Galatasaray and Turkish Süper Lig records. Before signing Osimhen, Galatasaray’s transfer record was €18 million for the signing of Gabriel Sara.

The previous league-wide record belonged to Fenerbahçe, for the €19.5 million paid to Sevilla for Moroccan international Youssef En-Nesyri. The €55.5 million difference underscores the seismic nature of Osimhen's transfer.

During the date of his unveiling, a new record was set for the highest internet traffic data recorded in Istanbul's history, further evidence of the impact of the signing.

The 2025/26 summer transfer window was a busy one for Cim-Bom, with three of their top transfers occurring during that period, a clear indication of a shift in direction and strategy.

1. Victor Osimhen — €75 million (2025/26): Signed from Napoli

2. Wilfried Singo — €30.77 million (2025/26): Signed from Monaco

3. Uğurcan Çakır — €27.5 million (2025/26): signed from Trabzonspor. Fee can rise up to €36 million in potential add-ons.

4. Gabriel Sara — €18 million (2024/25): Signed from Norwich

5. Mário Jardel — €17.05 million (2000/01): Held the record before Sara joined last summer. He was signed from Porto, according to Transfermarkt.