Premier League Clubs Questioned His Character - Now He's The Best Player in Turkey

Premier League Clubs Questioned His Character - Now He's Scoring Goals in Turkey

For the past few seasons, if you were to rank the most in-demand strikers across Europe, Victor Osimhen would be at the top of most lists.

The Nigerian striker was a pivotal part of Napoli's history-making Scudetto win in 2023 — their first league title in 33 years.

His goals, work rate, and physicality made him a nightmare for defenders, and achieving this at such a young age forced everybody sit up and take notice.

Forwards who score on such a consistent level are like unicorns in modern football, with clubs paying eye-watering sums for strikers who can transform a side.

The signings of Darwin Núñez and Rasmus Højlund are poignant examples of two huge clubs gambling on potential, and ultimately failing. Yet, in Osimhen, clubs had a ready-made, proven goalscorer. On pure talent alone, he looked like the perfect Premier League signing.

This prompts the question: Why is he in Turkey at just 26 years old, when he should be entering his prime?

Red Hot Form

Over the summer, Galatasaray made Osimhen's loan move permanent for a reported £75 million. After a fractured end to his Napoli career — marred by public disputes with the club and dressing room unrest — the loan was initially seen as a short-term reset.

Turkey was once seen as a place where ageing footballers could go to earn a last big payday before retiring.

But in the 2025 summer transfer window, something changed.

Victor Osimhen, 26, joined Galatasaray for €75m as the Turkish Super Lig registered the third-highest net… pic.twitter.com/uRFhhgQNO4

— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) September 30, 2025

But the permanent deal shocked many. What hasn't shocked anyone is his output.

In 40 games for the Turkish champions, he has recorded 49 goal contributions.

His performance against Liverpool in Europe was a brutal reminder of the level he can reach, being one of the few to cause Virgil Van Dijk a headache this season.

Liverpool learned it takes more than one man to stop Victor Osimhen 💪😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/kQHjhtdO6Q

— ESPN Africa (@ESPNAfrica) October 1, 2025

It doesn't take a genius to conclude that he is far too talented for the Turkish Super Lig.

From Hero to Headache in Naples

Osimhen's time at Napoli was equal parts iconic and chaotic. His goals fired the club to historic success, but off the pitch, things often unravelled.

There were repeated clashes with coaches, a now-infamous social media dispute with Napoli's official account, and whispers of a fractured relationship with teammates.

Despite his status as a fan favourite, insiders suggested the club grew tired of managing his temperament. Napoli were willing to cash in, with Premier League clubs circling, but questions about his attitude remained.

The Premier League Move That Never Was

Manchester United, Chelsea, and even Arsenal were strongly linked with Osimhen during his peak at Napoli. For clubs lacking a clinical striker, he was the obvious solution.

The fact that no Premier League side seriously chased Victor Osimhen’s signature is egregious.

This is a proper Barclays #9, an absolute nightmare for any CB. Starts for 18/20 sides in the Premier League as well.

pic.twitter.com/0TMt8BxBID

— CounterPressers (@CounterPressers) October 1, 2025

But in an era where recruitment is as much about character as ability, doubts crept in. Was he too unpredictable for the relentless scrutiny of the Premier League? Could he handle the pressure without losing his composure?

In the end, it seemed that all parties chose caution over risk, and now one of Europe's top forwards is plying his trade in Istanbul.

Is the Door Closed Now?

At 26, Osimhen still has time on his side. His numbers in Turkey prove his talent hasn't dimmed despite the obvious lower quality of Turkish football, and on ability alone, he would still improve almost every top-six side in England and elsewhere across Europe.

Yet the Premier League is less forgiving than ever. Clubs want not just goals, but reliability, and the window of patience given to new players seems smaller than ever these days. Osimhen's attitude, whether fairly or unfairly, has been called into question, and for most, the risk doesn't outweigh the reward.

However, it is safe to assume that he will not want to stay in the Superlig for long, regardless of the monetary incentives, and his eagerness to force a move may soon resurface.

Will this entice clubs to take a punt, or will he further harm his reputation?

One thing is sure, though: world-class strikers do not stay on the shelf for long.