Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen appears set for a return to action after being included in Galatasaray’s squad that flew to Ankara ahead of their Saturday Super Lig fixture against Gençlerbirliği. The 27-year-old has been absent since sustaining a broken arm during a Champions League match against Liverpool last month.
Galatasaray confirmed the squad’s arrival via their official X account, posting images of Osimhen alongside his teammates after touching down in the Turkish capital. The club’s post stated: “Our team landed in Ankara on a special flight operated by our sponsor, Turkish Airlines.” Head coach Okan Buruk had already flagged the possibility of a recall for his leading striker, telling reporters last week: “For the Genclerbirligi match, if conditions are suitable, I think he could be in the squad.”
To facilitate a safe return for the Nigerian forward, Galatasaray’s medical staff have reportedly developed a custom carbon fibre arm brace designed to protect the injury site from impact while allowing full freedom of movement on the pitch.
The timing of Osimhen’s potential comeback carries considerable weight in the context of the title race. Galatasaray currently sit top of the Super Lig heading into Matchweek 31, but their advantage over second-placed Fenerbahçe has narrowed to just two points with five fixtures remaining. In the period since Osimhen was sidelined, the defending champions have collected only four points from a possible nine, a run that has significantly tightened what had appeared to be a commanding title defence.
Opponents Gençlerbirliği present a contrasting picture. The Ankara club occupy 15th place in the table, sitting just two points above the relegation zone, and have not recorded a league win in their last nine matches. The historical record offers little comfort for the hosts either — Gençlerbirliği have not beaten Galatasaray since 2018, and the Istanbul side have won all four of their most recent head-to-head meetings without conceding a single goal.
Should Osimhen be passed fit to feature, he will look to extend a season’s tally that already stands at 19 goals and seven assists across 29 appearances in all competitions — figures that place him among the most productive strikers in European football in 2025-26.
The Gençlerbirliği game takes on added significance as the immediate precursor to a potentially title-defining Istanbul derby against Fenerbahçe on April 26. Coach Buruk faces the decision of whether to hand Osimhen a starting berth or manage his reintegration from the substitutes’ bench as Galatasaray bid to secure a fourth consecutive Süper Lig championship.
