Reigning African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen was given a rousing welcome to Turkey by fans of Turkish Super Lig champions Galatasaray as he arrived in Istanbul to join on a season-long loan deal.
Osimhen, 25, on Monday agreed an escapist loan move to Galatasaray from Italian side SSC Napoli after seeing a possible move away from the Italian club botched on the final day of the European transfer window.
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Hundreds of Galatasaray fans thronged on the Istanbul Airport to receive their new King from Africa and they were seen chanting Osimhen’s name as well as the club’s songs. Osimhen soon arrived and was seen joining them in the chants.
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It is reported that Galasaray will cover up to €10,000,000 in Osimhen’s wages, relieving Napoli of the burden of paying humongous wages to a player they had ostracised from the first team.
The move to Galatasaray means that Osimhen will reunite with his former Napoli teammate Dries Mertens. The Belgian star has found a home in Istanbul and he contributed nine (9) goals and a whopping nineteen (19) assists as they won the Super Lig title last season.
Osimhen becomes the latest Super Eagles star to play for Galatasaray after his former teammates Henry Onyekuru and Oghenekaro Etebo with the former winning the league title with Galatasaray. Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk also won the Turkish Super Lig with Istanbul Basaksehir which had Osimhen’s former Nigeria U23 teammate Okechukwu Azubuike.
Galatasaray have started the Turkish Super Lig with a 100% record, winning all their three games so far and with Osimhen, will be hoping they complete a league and Europa League double this term.
Osimhen could make his Super Lig debut for Galatasaray when they host Ibrahim Olawoyin’s Çaykur Rizespor on Sunday, September 15, 2024. The striker is expected to feature for Nigeria in their 2024 AFCON qualifying games over the next one week.
