Napoli and Galatasaray confirm Osimhen loan deal

Victor Osimhen has scored 21 goals in 35 appearances for Nigeria

Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen has joined Galatasaray on loan from Napoli, both clubs have announced.

Napoli said the deal lasts until the end of the 2024-25 season and that Osimhen has also agreed a one-year contract extension with the Italian club to June 2027.

The 25-year-old had been a target for Premier League side Chelsea before the English transfer window closed on Friday, with Saudi club Al-Ahli also interested, but has moved to Turkey instead.

Osimhen scored 76 goals in 133 games for Napoli and played a key role in their 2022-23 Serie A title win with 26 goals.

But he failed to maintain the explosive form that made him one of the most coveted strikers in Europe, scoring 15 times in Serie A last season in a disappointing campaign for Napoli in which they finished 10th and went through three managers.

Former Chelsea and Tottenham boss Antonio Conte took charge for this season and signed Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku, 31, from the Blues for £30m.