Former Super Eagles and Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has shed light on why Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen’s proposed move from Napoli to Chelsea fell through on transfer deadline day.
According to Punch Metro, Osimhen, who was linked with Chelsea as well as clubs in France and Saudi Arabia, had a strained relationship with his Italian club and had requested a transfer after helping Napoli secure their first league title in 33 years during the 2022-23 season, where he was Serie A’s top scorer with 26 goals.
On his Obi One Podcast, Mikel confirmed that Osimhen was “very, very close” to joining Chelsea but addressed why the deal didn’t materialize. The Chelsea icon, who previously stated that Osimhen was the final piece of the puzzle for the club, dismissed rumors suggesting the deal fell through due to Osimhen’s alleged greed.
Mikel stated, “I hear a lot of people saying things about Victor being greedy and demanding too much money, but that’s simply not true. Victor is not a greedy person; he just wants to be fairly compensated for his worth, which is completely reasonable.”
Despite reports that Osimhen sought a weekly salary of around £500,000, Mikel refuted these claims, saying, “He wasn’t asking for anything out of the ordinary. I was involved in the negotiations, and I can assure everyone that’s not the case. There were minor issues and small problems related to paperwork, medicals, and other details that prevented the deal from going through.”
Osimhen has since joined Turkish Super Lig side Galatasaray on a season-long loan, following an agreement with Napoli that included a £75m release clause and an option for a January transfer if a major club shows interest.
Osimhen celebrated his return to competitive football with a goal in the Super Eagles’ 3-0 victory over Benin Republic in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. He expressed his excitement about joining Galatasaray, saying, “I’m really thrilled to be part of the Galatasaray family and can’t wait to contribute to the team and create unforgettable memories with the fans.”