Napoli have reportedly turned down a formal €70 million offer from Turkish giants Galatasaray for Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
The latest development adds another layer to what has become one of the summer’s most closely watched transfer sagas.
Romano confirmed on Friday that Galatasaray had submitted a concrete bid, complete with banking documentation to guarantee payment, a move that appeared to address Napoli’s earlier insistence on financial assurances.
Despite this, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis swiftly rejected the offer, reiterating the club’s firm demand for a guaranteed €75 million fee before entertaining any transfer discussion.
“Understand Napoli have now rejected new formal proposal sent by Galatasaray today for Victor Osimhen,” Romano posted on X. “Galatasaray offered €70m today with bank documents attached for payment guarantees… Napoli president De Laurentiis wants €75m guaranteed and he has rejected.”
The rejection has reignited uncertainty around Osimhen’s future, especially given recent suggestions that both clubs had reached a consensus on a €75 million deal. That prior agreement, reports indicated, would have allowed Galatasaray to settle the transfer sum over five instalments, a structure Napoli reportedly considered, provided the guarantees were solid.
But Napoli’s rejection of Galatasaray’s latest bid suggests a firm shift in stance. It appears the Serie A club will accept nothing short of full financial certainty for their prized asset, a striker whose rise in European football over the past two seasons has placed him among the continent’s elite.
Osimhen remains one of the most valuable Nigerian players on the global stage and was instrumental in Napoli’s Scudetto-winning 2022/23 campaign. His blistering pace, physicality, and eye for goal attracted interest from top European clubs last summer, including Chelsea and Manchester United. Yet, none have been willing to meet Napoli’s financial expectations during this window.
Earlier in the summer, Napoli were reportedly exploring ways to encourage Osimhen to accept a more lucrative move to Saudi Arabia. Al-Hilal had tabled a massive offer that would have shattered salary records for African players. However, Osimhen made it clear through his camp that he wasn’t interested in joining the Saudi Pro League and was determined to stay in Europe.
Osimhen had spent last season on loan at Galatasaray, where he flourished under the Turkish side’s attacking system. That spell not only endeared him to Galatasaray fans but also convinced the club’s board to pursue his permanent signing with serious financial commitment. Their latest bid, complete with bank guarantees, appeared to reflect that commitment, but it still wasn’t enough.
According to Nigerian sports journalist Onyebuchi Onokala, known popularly as Buchi Laba, Napoli had previously turned down a €75 million offer from Galatasaray, even though it matched the striker’s official release clause. The rejection raised eyebrows in the football community, sparking speculation that Napoli were attempting to force a move to a higher-paying league rather than accept what seemed a reasonable European offer.
Despite that, Osimhen’s position remains unchanged. Sources close to the player have emphasized his unwillingness to move outside Europe at this stage of his career. He is believed to be fully focused on playing at the highest levels of club football and is reportedly prepared to remain at Galatasaray, where he feels supported and valued.
Meanwhile, Premier League interest has cooled. Arsenal, once considered frontrunners for Osimhen’s signature, have shifted their focus to other targets due to wage demands and tactical preferences.
Manchester United, who had monitored the striker for months, are now pursuing a deal for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo. LaLiga clubs have also remained passive, with no side willing to activate the full release clause.
This leaves Galatasaray in a precarious position: determined to land their man but caught between Napoli’s hardline demands and the clock ticking on the transfer window. Whether they will return with a fresh bid that meets Napoli’s expectations in full remains to be seen.
For Napoli, keeping Osimhen could still be a possibility, though a tense one. With the player’s clear desire to remain in Europe and Napoli’s rigid stance on valuation, any breakthrough may only come if one side blinks first.
What you should know
Napoli have rejected a €70 million guaranteed offer from Galatasaray for Victor Osimhen, despite receiving full bank documentation. Club president Aurelio De Laurentiis insists on €75 million up front, even as Osimhen shows no interest in a move to Saudi Arabia.
Galatasaray remain determined, but the striker’s future hinges on whether Napoli will eventually soften their stance or risk unsettling one of Europe’s most valuable forwards.
