Victor Osimhen, who is owned by Napoli, reportedly turned down the opportunity to join Juventus this summer, giving Premier League heavyweights Arsenal and Manchester United a leg up in their pursuit of the striker.
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The Nigerian forward reportedly turned down a move to the Allianz Stadium for the 2025–26 season, according to Naples-based media outlets Il Mattino and Radio Kiss Kiss.
According to recent sources, the 26-year-old striker has reportedly rejected a move to the Turin giants, despite the fact that he had become the main target for the Old Lady’s attack this season (with 36 goals in all competitions).
Both Manchester United and Arsenal have been keeping tabs on the prolific forward for months, and this new information puts them in a much stronger position to sign the Nigerian international, according to Radio Kiss Kiss.
The report states that even though Paris Saint-Germain signed Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, an ex-teammate of Osimhen’s from Napoli, during the January transfer window, the French club is still interested in signing him.
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Although it does not apply to clubs in Serie A, Osimhen’s €75 million release clause is still in his contract with Napoli.
Juventus faced a major roadblock in this clause, but new rumors suggest they were prepared to pay more than this to convince Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis to sell Osimhen to them instead of a foreign club.
As reported by Il Mattino, the forward who is now owned by Napoli is reportedly being courted by Saudi clubs, with his current club Galatasaray also mulling over a permanent deal.
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On Sunday, Osimhen helped the Istanbul giants win the Turkish Süper Lig with a 3-0 victory over Kayserispor. He is presently on loan at Galatasaray and is having an incredible season.
That encounter was the seventh in a row for the Nigerian forward, who now has 25 goals for the season in the Turkish Süper Lig. He is now three points ahead of Krzysztof Piątek of Istanbul Başakşehir in the battle for the Golden Boot, and there are still two matches left to be played.
Osimhen scored twice in Galatasaray’s Turkish Cup triumph over Trabzonspor, and the team’s domestic double was accomplished with this championship win.
Osimhen has been mum on the subject of his future plans as his loan spell winds down, saying, “I will wait until the end of the season before I announce what is next for me.”
Napoli have an option to extend Osimhen’s contract until 2027 if the striker does not sign with another club during the summer transfer window. His current contract expires in 2026.