It's one of the most perplexing transfer mysteries in modern football: why has Victor Osimhen, a proven goal-scoring phenomenon, not yet graced the pitches of the Premier League? Despite years of interest from England's biggest clubs and glowing endorsements from former stars, the Nigerian striker has repeatedly seen a move to England fail to materialise.
Key Highlights:
- Victor Osimhen boasts an outstanding scoring record across Europe's top leagues and helped Napoli win the Serie A title in 2022-23.
- Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool have all been linked with the Nigerian striker at various stages.
- Former stars including Andy Cole, Patrice Evra and Louis Saha have backed Osimhen's ability to succeed in English football.
- His huge transfer package, wage demands, timing and the priorities of potential suitors have all complicated a move to the Premier League.
The Real Reason Victor Osimhen Has Never Joined a Premier League Club
Victor Osimhen has seemingly had everything required to become a Premier League striker. His combination of pace, physicality and ruthless finishing has made him one of Europe's most sought-after forwards.
Yet the Nigerian has repeatedly remained just out of reach for England's biggest clubs. GOAL's reporting suggests the explanation is less about his ability and more about the complicated economics and timing surrounding his transfers.
The situation has become even more intriguing after Osimhen established himself as a star at Galatasaray, where he has continued to score at an impressive rate. Rather than moving directly from Napoli to one of Europe's elite clubs, he initially joined the Turkish giants on loan before making the move permanent.
A Goal-Scoring Odyssey Across Europe
Osimhen's journey through European football began with Wolfsburg before spells at Charleroi and Lille helped establish his reputation as one of the continent's most exciting young forwards.
His career reached another level after joining Napoli, where he became the focal point of the attack and helped the club win its first Serie A title in 33 years during the 2022-23 season.
Osimhen scored 31 goals in all competitions that season, underlining why Europe's biggest clubs began circling. His performances also made him one of the most valuable strikers on the transfer market.
His move to Galatasaray did little to diminish that reputation. He scored 37 goals in 41 appearances during his first season in Turkey, helping the club secure a domestic double.
Premier League Interest Has Never Gone Away
The Premier League has remained one of Osimhen's most persistent potential destinations. Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea have all been repeatedly linked with the striker, while Liverpool have also featured in reports surrounding his future.
In 2025, GOAL reported that Osimhen favoured either a move to the Premier League or a switch to Juventus, with several English clubs searching for a striker.
There was also a major advantage for Premier League clubs when Osimhen's €75 million release clause was reported to apply to clubs outside Italy, potentially giving English sides an easier route than Serie A rivals such as Juventus. But having a pathway to sign him and actually completing the deal have proved to be two very different things.
Cole's Caution: More Than Just Talent
Former Manchester United striker Andy Cole has previously backed the idea of Osimhen joining the Red Devils, but his comments also highlighted an important point: adding one elite striker does not automatically solve every problem at a club.
Cole warned in 2023 that even signing Osimhen would not necessarily be enough to turn United into Premier League title contenders. At the time, Osimhen was coming off a remarkable Serie A campaign in which he scored 25 goals in 31 appearances.
That distinction has become increasingly relevant as United have repeatedly weighed up the enormous financial commitment required to land the Nigerian.
Saha and Evra Back Osimhen for Manchester United
Other former United stars have been considerably more direct in their support.
Louis Saha has repeatedly identified Osimhen as a striker who could make a difference at Old Trafford. In 2025, Saha described the Nigerian as a "big character" with experience at the highest level and backed United to consider him as they looked for greater firepower.
Saha went even further in October 2025, arguing that United should choose Osimhen over Viktor Gyokeres based on the Nigerian's proven scoring record at Napoli and Galatasaray. He also praised Osimhen's mentality, describing him as a big-game player who simply wants to score.
Patrice Evra has been equally enthusiastic. Speaking to GOAL in 2026, the former United defender named Osimhen as the one player Manchester United should go all out to sign, calling him a dream addition for the club.
The Financial Barrier Behind the Transfer Saga
Money has consistently been one of the biggest complications. When Osimhen was still at Napoli, the club's asking price and his salary demands made a transfer difficult even for wealthy Premier League clubs. GOAL reported that Chelsea's late attempt to sign him in 2024 collapsed amid concerns over his wage demands.
Manchester United have encountered a similar problem more recently. By 2026, GOAL reported that United's long-running pursuit had effectively reached a dead end, with the combined cost of Osimhen's transfer fee and his substantial wages in Turkey making a deal difficult to justify.
That is perhaps the clearest explanation for why a player with Osimhen's numbers can remain outside the Premier League: his talent has never been the main question; the overall cost of acquiring him has been.
