Victor Osimhen has officially rejected a blockbuster €120 million offer from Saudi club Al Hilal, equivalent to €40 million per year, according to The PUNCH and Foot Mercato. The Super Eagles striker, currently enjoying a break in Nigeria, made the call despite the deal being one of the most financially enticing ever offered to an African player.
Key Points:
Al Hilal had prioritised Osimhen as a marquee signing ahead of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, especially after hiring former Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi.
The Saudi club made an aggressive bid to tempt the 26-year-old, but sources confirm that Osimhen was not persuaded by money alone.
According to Foot Mercato, “The offer was quite impressive but ultimately did not convince the player.”
Why He Said No:
Osimhen appears to be focused on continuing his career in Europe, where he’s attracting interest from several elite clubs. His decision underscores his sporting ambition over financial incentives, likely eyeing Champions League football and top-tier competition.
An exclusive communication disseminated via X (formerly known as Twitter) by Onyebuchi Onokala, a confidential informant closely associated with the player in question, has verified the occurrence of the subject matter herein.
Mr. Onokala stated that Victor Osimhen has formally declined the initial contractual offer tendered by the Saudi football club Al Hilal, noting that the proposal mirrors the terms previously presented in the preceding year.
Furthermore, Mr. Onokala disclosed that a prominent Italian football club has expressed a definitive intent to remunerate Mr. Osimhen in accordance with his wage demands. Concurrently, the Turkish football champions, Galatasaray, are actively pursuing the acquisition of Mr. Osimhen’s services, with reports indicating that the applicable release clause is not constitutive of an impediment to such transaction.
Galatasaray, having previously benefitted from Mr. Osimhen’s exemplary performance during a loan tenure—marked by 37 goals in 41 competitive appearances—remain resolute in their objective to retain the player’s contract.
Additional reporting by Foot Mercato indicates that Galatasaray has submitted a revised salary proposition amounting to €26 million per annum, thereby emphasizing the club’s intent to secure the continued engagement of one of Europe’s most prolific forwards.
Simultaneously, football transfer analyst Fabrizio Romano provided commentary on Sunday, confirming that notwithstanding an agreement reached between Napoli and Al Hilal for a transfer fee of €75 million, Mr. Osimhen has expressly refused the transfer to the Saudi Pro League entity.
Mr. Romano further communicated that Galatasaray remains determined to finalize the signing, with the competitive bidding process effectively reopened.#newsafro_
