Galatasaray Clear Final €17.5m Victor Osimhen Payment to Napoli, Reaffirm ‘Not For Sale’ Stance

Galatasaray have reportedly fulfilled every financial obligation attached to their permanent acquisition of Victor Osimhen from Napoli, with Turkish outlet Yeniçağ reporting that the Istanbul club cleared the final €17.5 million instalment last week.

The 27-year-old Nigerian forward’s move to the Super Lig heavyweights was structured as a staggered payment arrangement on a €75 million club-record fee — the largest in Galatasaray’s history. An initial upfront sum of €40 million was paid last summer, with the remaining €35 million divided into tranches, the last of which has now reportedly been settled in full.

The path to completing the transfer was far from straightforward. Napoli’s insistence on a substantial portion of the fee being paid upfront created significant financial pressure on the Istanbul club. To bridge the gap, Galatasaray president Dursun Özbek reportedly intervened personally, drawing on funds from his own private company to ensure the deal crossed the line.

Osimhen’s arrival in Turkey represented a major statement of intent from Galatasaray, who compete annually in UEFA continental competition and have built their squad around the Super Eagles captain as a long-term attacking cornerstone. The Nigerian international, capped extensively for Nigeria, had previously been one of Serie A’s most sought-after forwards during his time at Napoli, where he played a central role in the club’s 2022-23 Scudetto triumph — their first league title in 33 years.

Despite the transfer fee now being fully settled, Galatasaray’s work is far from over. Osimhen continues to attract interest from clubs across Europe’s top divisions, with Chelsea among the sides previously linked with the striker, according to reports. However, the Galatasaray board has publicly maintained a firm “not for sale” position on the forward, viewing him as central to the club’s plans in the immediate future.

With the financial chapter of the deal now closed, Galatasaray’s focus shifts to retaining their prized asset beyond what has already been a high-profile and costly acquisition process. Whether European interest intensifies ahead of the summer transfer window remains to be seen, but the club’s stance — at least publicly — leaves little room for negotiation.