By Dr. Nura Garba Sabonsara
Victor Osimhen, the reigning African Footballer of the Year and Nigeria’s star striker, finds himself in a challenging position after a series of transfer missteps that could have significant implications for his career. Osimhen’s ambitious pursuit of a transfer has led to complications that now require careful strategic planning to resolve.
Initially, Osimhen sought to secure a move to Chelsea FC in the English Premier League (EPL), demanding a weekly wage of €500,000. This demand, which would have made him the highest-paid player in the EPL, was swiftly rejected by Chelsea. Meanwhile, as his transfer to the EPL stalled, Osimhen received a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli, which he also turned down.
Caught between options, Osimhen had already informed Napoli, his current club, of his desire to leave. Napoli’s Sporting Director, Giovanni Manna, urged Osimhen to remain with the club and continue their project, but Osimhen expressed that he saw his future elsewhere. With the European transfer window now closed, Osimhen finds himself in limbo.
Napoli’s new head coach, Antonio Conte, has stated that players outside the squad plans will not be reintegrated, effectively ruling out Osimhen for the season. Napoli has already moved forward, signing Romelu Lukaku, who made an immediate impact by scoring in his debut match during extended stoppage time against Parma. This has left Osimhen’s future at Napoli uncertain.
Osimhen’s indecision may come at a high cost, potentially affecting his market value and playing opportunities. While still officially a Napoli player, he is not part of Conte’s plans for the current season. In hindsight, a more decisive approach to his transfer could have avoided this predicament, drawing parallels with Odion Ighalo’s move to Manchester United, where he accepted a wage reduction to pursue his career at a prestigious club.
Reports suggest that Napoli had accepted an €80 million offer from Al Ahli, which would have earned Osimhen £646,000 per week on a four-year contract. This deal would have made him one of the highest-paid footballers in the world. However, despite the agreement, Osimhen rejected the offer.
**What’s Next for Osimhen?**
Osimhen now faces several tough choices. One option is to wait out the next four months without playing for a club, while maintaining his fitness ahead of Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda on September 7. Another alternative is to convince Napoli to arrange a loan deal to a club in a country where the transfer window is still open, thus allowing him to continue playing competitively.
A more difficult path would involve apologizing to Napoli and seeking a return to the squad, though this seems unlikely given the arrival of Lukaku and Napoli’s commitment to making him their primary striker.
The Saudi Arabian transfer window remains open until September 2, but sealing a deal in such a short time frame may prove challenging. Sports pundits have pointed out that Osimhen’s decision-making reflects a lack of foresight, a criticism often levied against African players compared to their European or Brazilian counterparts, who tend to prioritize their long-term career development over immediate financial gain.
Regardless of the outcome, Osimhen’s current situation has resulted in a significant setback. If he cannot secure a move to a league with an open transfer window, he may have to wait until January to either rejoin Napoli or make a fresh start with another club.
*Dr. Sabonsara, a sports analyst, writes from Kano
