The ongoing transfer saga surrounding Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has taken a fresh turn, with Napoli reportedly rejecting a third bid from Turkish giants Galatasaray. At the same time, the striker’s camp has accused the Serie A champions of attempting to force a move to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal.
According to Nigerian journalist Buchi Laba, who has been closely monitoring developments, Galatasaray made a third attempt to activate Osimhen’s €75 million release clause. However, Napoli turned down the offer due to the Turkish club’s proposed payment structure, which involved spreading the fee over several years — a format the Italian side finds unacceptable.
Napoli, instead, are insisting on a lump sum payment and have requested bank guarantees from Galatasaray to ensure financial security, as confirmed by top transfer reporters Gianluca Di Marzio and Nicolo Schira.
Laba alleged that Napoli’s rigid stance is driven by a preference for Al Hilal’s offer, which includes the full €75 million payment upfront. “They’re frustrating the deal intentionally and want to push him to Saudi Arabia (Al Hilal),” Laba claimed in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Despite the financial incentives, Osimhen is reportedly not interested in a move to Saudi Arabia. “Victor Osimhen has made it very clear that going to Al Hilal is not possible. He only wants Galatasaray,” Laba added.
The rift between Osimhen and Napoli appears to be widening, with the forward reportedly informing the club that he will not return for pre-season training and has no intention of playing for them again, despite being under contract until June 2026.
Tensions are expected to escalate further as Osimhen’s €75 million release clause is set to expire on Tuesday, July 15. If no agreement is reached by then, Napoli will be free to set a new price for the striker — potentially much higher — and complicate any future negotiations.
With Osimhen digging in his heels and Napoli holding firm, the standoff could stretch deeper into the summer unless a resolution is reached in the coming days.
