Galatasaray president Dursun Ozbek has made it plain: Victor Osimhen is going nowhere this summer, regardless of who comes calling or how much they offer.
Galatasaray have drawn a hard line in the sand over Victor Osimhen. Club president Dursun Ozbek confirmed on Sunday that the Turkish champions have no intention of selling the Super Eagles striker this summer, delivering the clearest public signal yet that no deal will be done despite mounting interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
“We didn’t buy Osimhen to sell him,” Ozbek told Turkish outlet Fotomac. “He’s a player who adds great value to Galatasaray and loves Galatasaray very much. We want him to serve Galatasaray for many years to come. Osimhen is also very happy at Galatasaray.” The words were unambiguous, and they came directly from the top of the club’s hierarchy.
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Atletico Madrid Bid Already Rejected
Ozbek’s statement follows reports that Atletico Madrid submitted a bid of around 120 million euros for Osimhen, only for Galatasaray to knock it back without serious consideration. Coach Okan Buruk had earlier insisted no formal proposal had arrived at the club, but multiple outlets in Turkey and Spain reported that a verbal offer was tabled and rejected as Galatasaray prepared for the new campaign. Atletico manager Diego Simeone had reportedly earmarked Osimhen as his top attacking target amid uncertainty over his current forwards.
Galatasaray’s position is that the asking price sits at around 150 million euros, a figure that would make any deal one of the most expensive in football history involving an African player. Barcelona, Chelsea, Manchester United, PSG, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid have all been linked with the 27 year old at various points, but none have come close to matching what Galatasaray are demanding. The Turkish club paid 75 million euros to make Osimhen’s move from Napoli permanent last summer, setting a new Turkish Super Lig transfer record in the process. They are not prepared to part with him for anything less than double that figure.
Osimhen signed a contract that runs until 2029, and Galatasaray are also reportedly paying him around 15 million euros net per year in salary. The combination of a long term deal, a punishing buyout threshold, and a president publicly committed to keeping him means the clubs circling his situation have an uphill task. Supporters who want to back Osimhen’s Galatasaray in next season’s Champions League can get set up with Bet9ja’s current promo code ahead of the group stage draw.
59 Goals and Three Trophies
The case for keeping Osimhen is hard to argue against from a purely footballing standpoint. Since arriving in Istanbul on loan from Napoli in 2024/25, the Nigeria international has scored 59 goals and registered multiple assists across 74 appearances in all competitions. In his debut loan season, he scored 26 goals and contributed four assists in 30 league appearances alone, helping Galatasaray win both the Super Lig title and the Turkish Cup. The move was made permanent last summer, and he has since helped the club win their fourth consecutive league title and reach the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Osimhen has also used his influence at the club to recruit. Reports emerged this week that he has personally appealed to Super Eagles teammate Ademola Lookman to join Galatasaray from Atletico Madrid, with the Turkish club believed to be exploring a move for the winger ahead of the new season. The fact that Osimhen is already trying to build the squad around him is another signal that he is not thinking about an exit this summer. Fans planning to stake on Galatasaray’s Champions League run next season can use the Bet9ja registration page to get started before the odds shorten.
What Happens Next
The summer transfer window still has months to run, and the situation could shift if a club returns with an offer closer to Galatasaray’s valuation. Barcelona, in particular, were linked with bids ranging from an initial 75 million euros up to a prepared 115 million euros as they search for a long term replacement for Robert Lewandowski. But with Galatasaray’s stance hardening and Osimhen publicly settled in Istanbul, any club hoping to prise him away faces a serious financial and logistical challenge.
For now, the message from Naturena is consistent at every level: from the president to the head coach to the player himself. Osimhen is a Galatasaray player, he is happy, and he is going nowhere. That will disappoint plenty of clubs across Europe. But for the Turkish Super Lig’s most dominant side, it is exactly the news their supporters want to hear heading into another continental campaign.
📌 Did You Know?
- Osimhen’s 75 million euro permanent transfer from Napoli to Galatasaray in July 2025 set a new all-time record for a transfer fee paid by a Turkish Super Lig club.
- He scored 59 goals in 74 appearances across all competitions for Galatasaray between his arrival in 2024 and the end of the 2025/26 season a remarkable return by any standard.
- Galatasaray’s reported asking price of 150 million euros would, if matched, place Osimhen among the ten most expensive players ever sold, joining the likes of Neymar, Mbappe, and Dembele.
- Osimhen turned down a lucrative Saudi Pro League offer in 2024 when his exit from Napoli was being negotiated, choosing instead to remain in European football at Galatasaray.
- Atletico Madrid’s bid of around 120 million euros, had it been accepted, would have ranked as one of the most expensive transfers in football history involving an African player.
- Osimhen’s contract at Galatasaray runs until 2029, meaning Galatasaray hold significant leverage in any transfer negotiation over the next three summers.
- Galatasaray have won four consecutive Turkish Super Lig titles, and Osimhen has played a central role in each of the last two championship campaigns since his arrival from Napoli.
