Galatasaray VP Abdullah Kavukçu Denies Any Offers Received for Victor Osimhen Amid Barcelona Links

Galatasaray vice president Abdullah Kavukçu has moved to quash transfer speculation surrounding Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, categorically denying that the club has received any formal approach from Barcelona or any other club.

“Osimhen is currently with us. We haven’t had any discussions. Neither a transfer nor any offers… We haven’t even looked at them,” Kavukçu told NtvSpor, in remarks that appear to directly contradict rumours of an unofficial approach from the newly crowned LaLiga champions.

Despite shutting down talk of active negotiations, the Galatasaray executive did not dispute the broader reality of Osimhen’s standing in world football, conceding that “everyone is already keeping an eye on Osimhen” — an acknowledgement of the 26-year-old’s sustained profile across Europe’s top clubs.

Reports linking Barcelona to an unofficial offer for the Super Eagles striker had circulated ahead of Kavukçu’s comments. The vice president’s response was unambiguous: no contact, official or otherwise, has been formally registered by the Turkish club.

The speculation around Osimhen’s future is not limited to the Catalan side. Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain have also been credited with monitoring the striker, according to reports, reflecting the level of attention his performances in Istanbul have generated since his arrival.

Osimhen joined Galatasaray initially on a season-long loan from Napoli before the Istanbul club exercised a permanent transfer, paying a reported €75 million in the summer of 2025 — a fee that set a new record for a transfer in Turkish football. The move represented a significant financial commitment by Galatasaray, and the returns have been considerable.

The forward has been central to Galatasaray’s domestic dominance, helping the club secure back-to-back Super Lig titles since his arrival. His output has reinforced the club’s position as the benchmark for Turkish football and drawn consistent attention from clubs across Europe’s major leagues.

Kavukçu had previously addressed valuation questions, reportedly stating he would personally decline to sell Osimhen even for a fee of €150 million — a figure that had been circulating as a possible asking price. That stance, combined with his latest comments, suggests Galatasaray are in no hurry to entertain any departure for their marquee signing.

Osimhen, now 27, spent the 2024–25 season on loan at Galatasaray after his relationship with Napoli became untenable following a breakdown in contract negotiations. His permanent switch to Turkey marked a turning point, transforming him from a player in limbo at a Serie A club into the centrepiece of one of Europe’s more ambitious mid-tier projects.

With the summer transfer window approaching, the coming weeks are likely to test Galatasaray’s resolve. Whether European heavyweights will escalate their interest into formal bids — and whether the Turkish club’s position will hold — remains to be seen.