Galatasaray, Napoli Finally Agreed On Deal For Victor Osimhen With Anti-Serie A Clause

After months of intense negotiations, Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen is finally set to become a permanent Galatasaray player.

The Turkish champions and Napoli reached a €75 million agreement for Victor Osimhen’s permanent move as one of this summer’s longest transfer sagas ends.

The deal, first reported by Gazzetta dello Sport and confirmed by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, will see Galatasaray pay €40 million upfront, with the remaining €35 million due in 2026.

But what is grabbing the headlines is not just the price tag, it is a unique clause that blocks Osimhen from returning to Italy anytime soon.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis reportedly insisted on a so-called “anti-Italy clause.” This stipulates that Galatasaray must pay double the transfer fee, €150 million, if Osimhen is sold to any Serie A club before 2027.

The move is seen as a strategic attempt to prevent the Nigerian from rejoining a domestic rival, especially after his explosive impact in the league.

From Naples to Istanbul: A Complicated Journey

Osimhen’s relationship with Napoli began to unravel after their historic 2023 Serie A title triumph.

Once celebrated as the face of that championship-winning side, Osimhen, 26, grew distant amid a wave of transfer speculation that summer.

He was eventually loaned to Galatasaray, where he stunningly reignited his form, scoring 37 goals in 41 appearances across all competitions.

Galatasaray made no secret of their desire to keep him, but negotiations hit a wall over Napoli’s high asking price and insistence on full financial guarantees.

Talks were further complicated when PSG made a late attempt to hijack the deal, with reports from L’Equipe revealing that sporting director Luis Campos, who originally signed Osimhen for Lille, was in direct contact with the striker.

Still, Galatasaray held their nerve. They agreed to issue a letter of credit to guarantee full payment, quelling Napoli’s financial concerns and allowing the deal to move forward.

According to Romano, the only detail still to be ironed out is the sell-on clause, which could give Napoli a percentage of any future sale.

Osimhen: “Coming to Istanbul Soon”

As anticipation mounted in Turkey, Galatasaray journalist Yakup Çınar revealed a telling update during a segment on the Yeni Açık YouTube channel.

“Throughout this transfer window, Osimhen wasn’t answering the phone calls of many of his friends in Istanbul,” Çınar said. “From today on, he started answering them and told them, ‘I’ll be coming to Istanbul soon.’ Osimhen’s ears are also in Italy.”

Osimhen’s expected return to Istanbul is a major boost for Galatasaray, who have been craving a marquee striker to spearhead their campaign in the coming season.

His exclusion from Napoli’s pre-season squad under new coach Antonio Conte had already fueled speculation that his time in Italy was over