Didier Drogba impact as Chelsea get new Victor Osimhen transfer boost after deal confirmed
Even though Chelsea was unable to sign Victor Osimhen during the summer transfer window, they still have some hope of doing so. On deadline day, the Blues made a serious effort to sign him, but they were unable to reach an agreement with Napoli because Al Ahli, a Saudi Pro League team, who was also keenly interested, chose to sign Ivan Toney.
Rather, Chelsea worked on a deal to recruit Jadon Sancho on loan from Manchester United during the last hours of the summer transfer window. Regarding Osimhen, he didn’t appear to be in Antonio Conte’s plans and appeared to stay in Italy until an improbable transfer scenario materialized.
Though the majority of transfer windows ended on August 30, clubs in Turkiye were still able to trade for a few more weeks with Galatasaray declaring an interest in Osimhen as a result. With his options dwindling, the 25-year-old accepted the move with Napoli also agreeing to pay a portion of his salary for a season-long loan to be sanctioned.
Considering he was facing the prospect of not playing competitive football for a number of months, the move – while not ideal – allows him to stay match fit and still play in Europe. It is also a club that Osimhen’s icon Didier Drogba played for, allowing the striker to follow in his footsteps, though Drogba’s stint there came when he was nine years older than Osimhen.
With that as a reason behind his final green light for the move, it certainly suggests he would still be very open to joining the Blues down the line given Drogba’s legendary status at Stamford Bridge. Following his temporary switch to Galatasaray, Osimhen’s release clause decreased to £63.2million (€75m).
There is also an option for Napoli to extend his contract until 2027 if he does not secure a permanent exit from the club next summer.
Another small and bizarre detail of his transfer has seen a break clause included in the loan which only applies to a number of top European clubs with Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool among those said to be able to sign him in the January transfer window.