Galatasaray President Hails Victor Osimhen As Turkish Super Lig’s Most Valuable Player

Galatasaray president Dursun Özbek has described Victor Osimhen as the most valuable player in the Turkish Super Lig, following reports valuing the Nigerian striker at €150 million amid renewed transfer interest.

Osimhen joined Galatasaray permanently from Napoli in the summer for a record €75 million, making him the most expensive signing in Turkish football history. The move came after an impressive loan spell that saw the 26-year-old quickly establish himself as a fan favorite.

Just months into his permanent stay, Osimhen is once again attracting attention from top European clubs including Chelsea, PSG, Manchester United, and Barcelona, ahead of the January transfer window.

So far this season, Osimhen has netted nine goals in 12 appearances across all competitions, including a hat-trick against Ajax in the UEFA Champions League — a performance that further reinforced his reputation as one of Europe’s top forwards.

Speaking during an awards ceremony in Istanbul, Özbek addressed speculation surrounding Osimhen’s valuation:

“Osimhen is one of the most valuable footballers in Türkiye,” Özbek told Sporx. “I don’t want to comment on specific numbers, but one thing is clear — all Turkish football fans agree that Osimhen is the league’s most valuable player.”

As part of the transfer agreement between Napoli and Galatasaray, the Turkish champions are prohibited from selling Osimhen to any Italian club before 2027. Additionally, Napoli will receive 10% of any future transfer fee from his next move.

Meanwhile, debates continue over whether Osimhen should already be playing for one of Europe’s elite teams.

Former Premier League forward Troy Deeney expressed his surprise on CBS Sports Golazo, questioning why a striker of Osimhen’s caliber isn’t leading the attack for a top club.

“Victor Osimhen is one guy we can never really understand. Why is he in Turkey? Why is he not at these big clubs?” Deeney asked. “There’s something about him that says he’s a goalscorer, but clearly some other people don’t fancy him. For me, you always need a goalscorer in your team.”