Victor Osimhen: A record-breaking football career

By Emre Asikci

ISTANBUL (AA) – Since joining Napoli from Lille in 2020, Victor Osimhen has made a significant impact on Italian football and created history by breaking several records during his four-year Serie A career.

Osimhen, 25, has shattered numerous records, with several impressive achievements already to his name. Moreover, there are still more goals he can aim to accomplish in Galatasaray jersey.

Transfermarkt, a German football data website, estimates Osimhen's value at €100 million (approximately $110 million).

He is currently recognized as one of the most expensive strikers, trailing only Manchester City's Erling Haaland, Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, and Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez.

With the transfer of Osimhen, Galatasaray's squad value is set to increase to €281 million (approximately $110 million).

- Osimhen, records rewriting Italian top-tier history

On Feb. 28, Sassuolo's home ground, Citta del Tricolore, hosted a thrilling encounter between Napoli and Sassuolo, which ended with a 6-1 victory for The Blues.

Osimhen scored a hat-trick in Serie A to equal a record set by Argentine superstar Diego Armando Maradona by scoring at least 10 goals in four consecutive seasons.

The Nigerian forward achieved this record between 2020 and 2024, while Maradona did the same between 1984-85 and 1987-88.

On May 6, the Napoli vs. Fiorentina game saw Osimhen etch his name into Napoli's record books.

Scoring against Fiorentina, he became an African player with the most goals in a single Italian Serie A season.

With 26 goals, he surpassed the famed African star Samuel Eto'o to reach another significant milestone.

The record was previously held by Eto’o with 21 goals in the 2010/11 season.

Since its inception in 1898, no African footballer has clinched the Golden Boot until Osimhen broke the record last season.

The Nigerian forward became the first African to win the Capocannoniere while helping Napoli win the Serie A title in 2022/23 season.

The Super Eagles forward joined Swedish superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the only footballer to claim both the Golden Boot and the Scudetto in the same season.

In addition, the Nigerian striker helped Napoli lift the 2022-23 Italian top-tier title this season for the first time in 33 years.

Osimhen has been tipped to make Nigeria proud throughout Africa.

By winning the 2023 African Best Player of the Year, he ended Nigeria's 24-year wait for Africa's top individual prize.

"It's a dream come true for me. I want to thank everyone who has seen me through life's journey, in achieving my dreams, in achieving my goals," Osimhen said at the ceremony, which was held at the Palais des Congress at the CAF Awards 2023 in the Moroccan city of Marrakech.

This was the first title won by a Nigerian player since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.

In addition, Osimhen set a new career record for the Second Highest Jump in Serie A, topping a record set five years ago by Cristiano Ronaldo.

He became Serie A's jump king with a 2.58-meter leap during his team's 3-0 road victory over Spezia at the Stadio Alberto Picco.

Ronaldo, 39, reached a height of 2.56 meters for his header against Sampdoria in 2019.

- Osimhen arrives in Istanbul to complete Galatasaray move

Galatasaray fans waited at Istanbul's airport on Tuesday night to welcome Osimhen to the city.

The Nigerian striker has officially been loaned out to Galatasaray for a year, and fans were super excited to have him there.

The celebrations took place at midnight around 0300 a.m.

The Istanbul club confirmed on Tuesday that they have begun talks to sign Osimhen before the closure of the summer transfer window, which will close on September 13.

"Official negotiations have begun with the football player and his club SSCN Napoli SPA regarding the temporary transfer of Professional Footballer Victor James Osimhen," the yellow-red club said in a statement.