Victor Osimhen: Is Africa’s Top Player Headed To Saudi After Rejecting Chelsea’s Paltry Deal?

Chelsea deal reduced Osimhen’s wages by half

Gianluca Di Marzio reports on Sky Sport Italia that Chelsea offered Victor Osimhen only €4 million per season, which is less than half of his current €10 million salary. They also included €4 million in performance-related bonuses.

Of those bonuses, €2 million depended on Chelsea qualifying for the Champions League, and the other €2 million was tied to his goals and appearances for the club.

Osimhen, Nigeria’s top footballer, found this offer insulting. He refused it, especially since Chelsea barely qualified for the Conference League last season, making the Champions League seem unlikely.

Italian sources have stated for weeks that Osimhen would not accept a pay cut from the €10 million he agreed to with Napoli in December 2023.

He is also angry with Napoli for failing to finalize a fee with Al-Ahli, where he would have earned €40 million per season with a release clause. Napoli wanted an additional €5 million in add-ons on top of the €80 million offer.

Now, Osimhen faces a difficult situation. He has nowhere to go, and Napoli does not want him. He will train separately from the squad.

His only hope is that a club in the Saudi Pro League will make an offer before their transfer deadline on September 2.

The Future of Africa’s Top Player at Napoli

Osimhen ended up staying at Napoli on transfer deadline day, even though he may not play for the club again.

Sky Sport Italia reported a complicated situation involving an agreement with Al-Ahli and a transfer fee that Chelsea had agreed upon with Napoli.

However, Al-Ahli did not finalize their fee, and Osimhen was unhappy with the personal terms Chelsea offered.

His agent recently indicated that Osimhen preferred to stay in Europe instead of moving to Saudi Arabia.

Without acceptable options to remain in Europe, it seemed the player was ready to go to the Middle East until talks between the clubs fell apart.

What Next for Victor Osimhen?

Osimhen’s relationship with Napoli is now “completely broken,” and his career has unexpectedly hit a wall. A move to another European club is not possible until January.

This means he may have to rely on quick interest from another club in Saudi Arabia, where the transfer window remains open until September 2.

Career Highlights

Victor Osimhen has had a meteoric rise to stardom, showcasing his exceptional talent and goal-scoring ability. Here are some of his career highlights:

Youth Career

• Golden Boot and Silver Ball: Won the Golden Boot and Silver Ball awards at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, helping Nigeria win the tournament.
• CAF Youth Player of the Year: Named CAF Youth Player of the Year in 2015.

Senior Career

• Serie A Golden Boot: Finished as the top scorer in Serie A in the 2022/23 season, becoming the first African player to win the award.
• Serie A Footballer of the Year: Named Serie A Footballer of the Year in 2023.
• Napoli’s Record Transfer: Signed by Napoli for a club-record fee in 2020.
• Serie A Best Young Player: Won the Serie A Best Young Player award in 2022.
• Africa Cup of Nations Finalist: Reached the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria.
• Ballon d’Or Top 10: Became the first Nigerian player to finish in the top 10 of the Ballon d’Or awards in 2023.

Personal Life

Osimhen was born on December 29, 1998, in Lagos as the youngest of six siblings. His parents are from Edo State and belong to the Esan ethnic group of Nigeria.

He grew up in the Olusosun area of Oregun/Ojota in Lagos State. Osimhen desires to help disabled people across Africa.

Didier Drogba was his footballing idol while growing up. Osimhen is a Christian and has drawn inspiration from Sadio Mané, who supports his community in Senegal.

In October 2022, Osimhen announced the birth of his first child, a daughter named Haly.

Victor Osimhen’s Net Worth

As of 2024, Victor Osimhen has an estimated net worth of $10 million. The 25-year-old Super Eagles striker has a market value of €100 million, according to Transfermarkt.

He earns most of his money from playing football, with only a few brand ambassadorship deals to supplement his income.