Victor Osimhen, the Super Eagles forward, has made history as the sixth Nigerian to represent the Turkish football club Galatasaray. His move from Napoli on loan marks the continuation of a tradition of Nigerian players at the club.
Osimhen, who had an outstanding stint at Napoli, scoring 26 goals in the 2022-2023 season and earning the Serie A top scorer award, attracted interest from top European clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester United, as well as from Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli. Despite these offers, Osimhen opted to join Galatasaray, where he was warmly welcomed by fans.
His transfer to Galatasaray follows in the footsteps of five other Nigerian players who have donned the club’s colors:
- Dominic Iorfa – The first Nigerian to play for Galatasaray, Iorfa had a brief but memorable stint in 1992, scoring three goals in nine games.
- Henry Onyekuru – Joining from Everton in 2018, Onyekuru became the most successful Nigerian at Galatasaray, scoring 22 goals and providing 12 assists in 71 appearances. He played a crucial role in helping the club win the Turkish Super Lig and the League Cup.
- Valentine Ozornwafor – Signed from Enyimba in 2019, Ozornwafor struggled to make an impact, appearing just once for the club during his three-year stay.
- Oghenekaro Etebo – Etebo joined in 2020 and made 29 appearances for Galatasaray during his time at the club.
- Jesse Sekidika – Also joining in 2020, Sekidika featured 19 times and scored one goal for the Turkish giants.
Osimhen’s addition to the team brings fresh excitement and anticipation as Galatasaray fans look forward to seeing his influence on the pitch. His presence ensures that the Nigerian legacy at the club continues, with high hopes that he will replicate the stellar performances that made him a standout player in Italy.