Napoli have signed the Lille forward Victor Osimhen for a fee of €81.3m including add-ons.
The player was heavily linked with a move to the Premier League as well but the Italians managed to convince the player to join them.
As per reports, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool were keen on the player. Osimhen even spoke to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jurgen Klopp on the phone but they failed to change his mind about a move to Napoli.
Osimhen is highly rated around Europe and it will be interesting to see how he performs in the Serie A now.
He is quite young and he could be the replacement for Dries Mertens in the long run. He will add pace, flair and goals to Napoli’s attack next season.
The Nigerian forward has a high ceiling and he could develop into a star with the right coaching and regular first team opportunities.
The Lille star is now the most expensive African player of all time and he will be expected to live up to that reputation now.
Osimhen has an initial fee of €71.2 million but a further €10.1 million is guaranteed in add-ons, taking the overall fee to €81.3 million .The deal eclipses the £72 million transfer fee for Arsenal’s Nicolas Pepe, who Osimhen then replaced in Lille’s attack.
The former Wolfsburg man will see a surge in yearly wages to €4m-€5.5m a year, from the his earlier wages of €1m in France.
Belgium side Charleroi, Osimhen’s former club, will receive €7 million from the transfer as a result of a sell-on percentage clause they inserted when he departed last summer.
Osimhen will have to hit the ground running and make an immediate impact.
As for his Premier league suitors, it will be interesting to see who they turn to now as an alternative.
Osimhen could have been a good addition to the Premier League. His direct style of play would have suited to English football well.
