The future of Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has sparked intense debate among fans and friends as speculation over his next career move reaches a fever pitch.
According to YEPS.NG, Osimhen, currently crowned African Footballer of the Year, has reportedly decided to join Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli. The Napoli forward had kept everyone guessing about his next destination during the transfer window.
Osimhen is said to have turned down a potential move to Chelsea Football Club in England.
Reports from Sky Sport Italy indicate that the Nigerian star prefers a switch to the Saudi Arabian side on a four-year deal, with Napoli set to earn £67.3 million (€80 million) plus add-ons.
Initially, Osimhen had rejected a €70 million offer from Al-Ahli, with his agent, Roberto Calenda, emphasizing that the Napoli star still had unfinished business in European football, YEPS.NG reports.
This development comes amidst heightened transfer speculation, with numerous top clubs from Europe and the Middle East expressing interest in the Napoli striker.
The Saudi Pro League has several clubs eager to break the bank for Osimhen, but the Nigeria international had previously shown a preference for continuing his career in Europe, particularly in the English Premier League.
Before the latest news of Osimhen’s potential move to Saudi Arabia, fans and friends engaged in heated discussions on social media, with opinions clashing over his future and contract terms.
Nigerian journalist and close ally of Osimhen, Adebayo Sulaiman, known as @PoojaMedia on social media, had dismissed rumors of the striker heading to Chelsea this summer. However, others insisted that Osimhen was bound for England.
The debate escalated when German-based Nigerian journalist Oma Akatugba, in a post on his X account, claimed that Osimhen was on the verge of joining Chelsea.
“The Victor Osimhen transfer saga appears to be leaning towards Chelsea. My sources—not Victor or anyone from his camp—indicate that as of 11 p.m. last night, he agreed to a weekly wage of €350,000 with Chelsea. Initially, he sought €500,000 per week, but Chelsea persuaded him to accept the lower figure. However, this drama is far from over, as Saudi clubs are still in the race with even bigger offers,” Akatugba wrote.
Akatugba’s claims stirred up social media, with friends and fans offering their own perspectives on the situation.
Osimhen’s close friend and social media influencer, @the_smallie, disputed Akatugba’s report, stating, “He never asked for €500k, and Chelsea didn’t propose anything close to €350k. An accredited UEFA journalist shouldn’t spread misinformation like this.”
Another influencer, @TheTifeFab, chimed in, saying, “This is a BIG LIE. Chelsea never offered Victor €350,000, and he didn’t request €500,000. Let’s stop spreading false information.”
Similarly, @_AsiwajuLerry, another friend of the striker, responded to Akatugba’s post by writing, “This guy fell out with Victor Osimhen and most of the Super Eagles players. He’s been taking shots at them whenever he gets a chance. Quoting such an outrageous amount just to set the player up is disgraceful.”
Supporting @the_smallie, an X user with the handle @Iamadaba added, “You people just hate Osimhen for no reason. What’s with all these hot takes and gibberish? You probably wish you had someone like him in your corner, but since he doesn’t connect with you, it’s all about hate and an agenda.”
However, social commentator @Letter_to_Jack argued that while Osimhen’s friends were trying to set the record straight, their detailed revelations about the ongoing contract negotiations weren’t helping the player’s image.
“I understand you want to correct the record about your friend, and that’s admirable. But sharing too much detail about a contract still under negotiation doesn’t reflect well on Osimhen. Future employers, especially in Europe, will take note. Trusted journalists would simply label such claims as ‘FALSE’ without delving into details until the transfer saga is resolved or the window closes— which is just hours away now.”
Echoing this sentiment, football fan @Jerkingfish tweeted, “It’s funny how they don’t see it like this. At this point, I think these guys are part of Osimhen’s problem. How can you argue private contract details with a journalist just because ‘he’s my friend’? All they had to do was say ‘False.’”
In response to the public revelation of Osimhen’s move to Saudi Arabia, Akatugba doubled down on his earlier claims, stating that the player chose the higher-paying offer.
“Chelsea couldn’t meet his demands, so he went for the money. But some people insist he couldn’t ask for 500k when others are earning close to 800k a month before tax in England. I’m not one to back down when I know my story. They can hire you to embarrass yourself here, but that’s your choice. I’m working, you’re making noise,” Akatugba wrote.