Victor Osimhen’s long-awaited move to the Premier League has been given a personal boost after one of his former international team-mates publicly backed a transfer to Arsenal, Footynaija reports.
The Galatasaray striker is being discussed by Arsenal and the Turkish champions as Mikel Arteta’s side look for more attacking options before the new season. The latest talks have also involved Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli and teenage midfielder Ethan Nwaneri.
Osimhen’s former Super Eagles mate John Ogu has given the proposed move his approval, saying he would be happy to see the Nigeria international at the Emirates Stadium. Ogu and Osimhen were in the Super Eagles squad that finished with a bronze medal at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Ogu expressed his support in a simple message: “Dear Lord please let that his move to Arsenal come to pass .. AMEN.” He also believes Osimhen deserves the chance to test himself at the highest level in England.
The interest is significant because Arsenal were linked with Osimhen when he was still a teenager. In 2016, after helping Nigeria win the Under-17 World Cup in Chile, he chose Wolfsburg instead of Arsenal because he wanted a club where he could play regularly and develop.
That decision helped shape his career. After struggling for regular football in Germany, Osimhen moved to Charleroi in Belgium, then Lille in France before joining Napoli for a reported €70m in 2020.
He became one of Europe’s leading strikers at Napoli, scoring 26 Serie A goals as the club won the Italian title in 2022-23. He later moved to Galatasaray, first on loan in 2024 before making the transfer permanent.
Now aged 27, Osimhen is again being linked with England. Arsenal’s interest has surfaced during talks over Galatasaray’s pursuit of Martinelli, for whom the Turkish club have made a verbal offer of about £38.5m.
However, the move is far from straightforward. Galatasaray are determined to keep Osimhen and have already rejected a reported £111m offer from Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal this summer.
Arsenal therefore face a major financial challenge if they decide to turn the latest discussions into a formal bid.
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