Arsenal have opened talks with Galatasaray over a deal for Victor Osimhen, according to The Telegraph, with the striker’s name surfacing during wider discussions involving Gabriel Martinelli and Ethan Nwaneri. ESPN and Goal have since reported the talks, placing the 27-year-old Nigerian international among Mikel Arteta’s options as Arsenal’s pursuit of Julian Alvarez stalls. Galatasaray paid Napoli €75 million for Osimhen in July 2025 and handed him a four-year contract.
Galatasaray’s interest in Martinelli includes a €45 million bid, while Nwaneri has attracted attention in the wider discussions. That makes this more than a straightforward striker chase.
Victor Osimhen Arsenal talks change the equation
There’s a clear football case. Osimhen scored 15 goals and supplied five assists in 22 Süper Lig appearances in 2025/26, while UEFA competition data records seven Champions League goals. His non-penalty expected goals per 90 ranked in the top 1% of Süper Lig players, according to FootyStats. That profile points to a striker who attacks space and gives Arsenal a reference point.
Still, Victor Osimhen’s interest from Arsenal carries a tactical question. Arsenal have succeeded with Kai Havertz’s movement and a shared scoring burden with Viktor Gyokeres, while Osimhen operates more naturally as an aggressive focal striker. He could give Arteta a different route through stubborn blocks, particularly with crosses.
Victor Osimhen Arsenal deal could be a luxury upgrade
My view is that Arsenal don’t need Osimhen in the strict sense; they could win with their existing attacking structure. Yet his arrival could make them harder to contain in Europe, where a penalty-box predator can turn half-chances into goals.
The cost matters. Galatasaray paid €75 million, and reports of a £70 million valuation make a major fee plausible, especially because his contract runs until 2029 and the club confirmed there was no release clause. Arsenal should resist sacrificing too much squad depth to force the deal through.
There’s another concern. Osimhen missed around six weeks in 2026 after surgery on a fractured right forearm. Nigeria won AFCON bronze, and he has 35 goals in 51 recognised appearances.
Read: £3m West Ham deal collapses after medical warning – What’s next for Arsenal?
Victor Osimhen Arsenal move has real upside
John Obi Mikel’s backing makes sense because Osimhen wants Champions League football. For Arsenal, though, the decision should rest on role and price. If Arteta wants a devastating No.9 for Champions League nights, this is a compelling gamble. If he wants seamless continuity, forcing Osimhen into an established pressing structure could create friction.
