Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Victor Osimhen

How Victor Osimhen built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Victor Osimhen is a highly regarded Nigerian professional footballer known for his role as a striker. His key attributes include explosive pace, physical strength, aerial prowess, and clinical finishing. He currently plays for Süper Lig club Galatasaray and serves as the vice-captain for the Nigeria national team, solidifying his reputation as one of the top strikers globally.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

2015: Rising Star at FIFA U-17 World Cup

After being noticed for his performances at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Osimhen got noticed.

2015: Won FIFA U-17 World Cup with Nigeria

In 2015, Osimhen was a member of the Nigeria under-17 team that won the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile. He scored 10 goals in seven games at the tournament and won the Golden Boot and Silver Ball awards. His performances also earned him the CAF Youth Player of the Year award in 2015.

2015: FIFA U-17 World Cup Triumph

In 2015, Victor Osimhen represented Nigeria at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, emerging as the tournament’s top scorer with 10 goals and helped Nigeria win the title.

January 2016: Pre-contract with VfL Wolfsburg

In January 2016, Victor Osimhen committed to a pre-contract with VfL Wolfsburg, stipulating that he would officially join the club in January 2017.

2016: Pre-contract signed with Wolfsburg

In January 2016, after being noticed for his performances at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Osimhen committed to a pre-contract with VfL Wolfsburg.

January 2017: Joins VfL Wolfsburg

In January 2017, Victor Osimhen officially joined VfL Wolfsburg.

June 2017: Senior Debut for Nigeria

In June 2017, Osimhen made his official senior debut for Nigeria in a 2–0 defeat against South Africa.

June 2017: Senior International Debut

In June 2017, Victor Osimhen made his senior international debut for Nigeria.

2017: Osimhen Joins VfL Wolfsburg

In 2017, Victor Osimhen began his senior career in Germany at VfL Wolfsburg.

2017: Matchday Squad Inclusion

In the first half of the 2017–18 season, Victor Osimhen was named in 12 of the 17 matchday squads.

January 2018: Full Bundesliga Debut

On 28 January 2018, Victor Osimhen earned his full Bundesliga debut against Hannover.

August 2018: Loan to Charleroi

On 22 August 2018, Victor Osimhen joined Belgian club Charleroi on a season-long loan deal from Wolfsburg.

November 2018: Recalled to the National Team

In November 2018, following a successful loan spell at Charleroi, Osimhen was recalled by Gernot Rohr for the November 2018 international break, starting their friendly win over Uganda.

2018: Osimhen loaned to Charleroi

In 2018, Victor Osimhen moved to Belgian side Charleroi on loan after playing for VfL Wolfsburg.

March 2019: Represented Nigerian U23 Side

In March 2019, Osimhen was released from the Super Eagles squad to represent the Nigerian U23 side. He scored three goals in the return match against Libya in Asaba.

August 2019: Transfer to Lille

On 1 August 2019, Victor Osimhen's transfer to French Ligue 1 club Lille was confirmed, signing a five-year contract.

October 2019: First Champions League Goal

On 2 October 2019, Victor Osimhen scored his first goal in the UEFA Champions League in a match against Chelsea.

2019: Played in the Africa Cup of Nations

In 2019, Osimhen was listed in the final list for the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Egypt. He played a total of 45 mins at the tournament, replacing the injured Odion Ighalo in the third-place match against Tunisia.

2019: Africa Cup of Nations

In 2019, Victor Osimhen played at the Africa Cup of Nations.

June 2020: Contract with Wolfsburg ends

On 5 January 2017, Victor Osimhen officially signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with VfL Wolfsburg, lasting until June 2020.

July 2020: Signs with Napoli

On 31 July 2020, Victor Osimhen signed for Serie A club Napoli, for a club-record fee.

2020: Osimhen Transfers to Napoli

In 2020, Victor Osimhen transferred to Serie A side Napoli for a club-record fee.

January 2021: Return to Napoli After Injury and COVID-19

On 29 January 2021, Victor Osimhen returned to Napoli, after recovering from a shoulder injury and contracting the COVID-19 virus, and was subbed on for around twenty minutes of Napoli's Coppa Italia win against Spezia.

September 2021: Europa League Brace Against Leicester City

On 16 September 2021, Victor Osimhen scored a brace in a 2–2 away draw against Leicester City in the Europa League group stage.

October 2022: First Champions League Goal

On 12 October 2022, Victor Osimhen scored his first Champions League goal with Napoli in a 4–2 win over Ajax.

January 2023: Napoli Beats Juventus

On 13 January 2023, Victor Osimhen scored two and assisted another as Napoli beat Juventus 5–1.

February 2023: 100th Career Goal

On 17 February 2023, Victor Osimhen scored his 100th career goal to help Napoli win 2–0 at Sassuolo.

September 2023: Second International Hat-Trick

On 10 September 2023, Osimhen scored his second international hat-trick in Nigeria's 6–0 win against São Tomé and Principe, finishing the 2023 AFCON qualifiers as top scorer with 10 goals.

November 2023: Return from Injury

On 25 November 2023, Victor Osimhen returned from a hamstring injury and assisted Eljif Elmas' winning goal in a 2–1 victory over Atalanta.

December 2023: Played in 2023 Africa Cup of Nations

In December 2023, Osimhen was called up for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. He netted a goal in the opening match against Equatorial Guinea which ended in a 1–1 draw.

December 2023: Champions League Goal and Qualification

On 12 December 2023, Victor Osimhen scored his first goal of the 2023–24 Champions League campaign and helped secure Napoli's progression to the knockout stages.

2023: International Call-Up and Red Card

In 2023, Osimhen was called up for international duty for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Later the same day, Osimhen received a red card in a match against Roma, preventing him from playing in the final game before his international assignment.

February 2024: Scored Hat-Trick Against Sassuolo

On 28 February 2024, Victor Osimhen scored a hat-trick in a 6–1 away win over Sassuolo. This achievement made him the third player in Napoli's history to score at least ten goals in Serie A in four consecutive seasons, joining Diego Maradona and Attila Sallustro.

August 2024: Failed Transfer Deals

In August 2024, there were speculations about Osimhen leaving Napoli with Al-Ahli, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain all linked to him. On 30 August 2024, a deal with Al-Ahli fell through, and a proposed move to Chelsea also failed. On 31 August, Osimhen was excluded from Napoli's Serie A squad and stripped of his number.

2024: Osimhen loaned to Galatasaray

Ahead of the 2024–25 season, Victor Osimhen was loaned to Turkish side Galatasaray.

2024: Transfer to Galatasaray and Europa League Goals

In 2024, Victor Osimhen transferred to Galatasaray. He scored his first goals for the club in a match against Kasımpaşa and later scored his first goals in Europe for Galatasaray in a Europa League match against Tottenham Hotspur.

March 2025: Second Highest Goal Scorer for Nigeria

In March 2025, Osimhen became the second highest goal scorer for the Nigeria national team after scoring two goals in a 2–0 away victory over Rwanda during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification.

March 2025: Scored First Hat-Trick with Galatasaray

On 14 March 2025, Osimhen scored his first hat-trick with Galatasaray in a 4–0 victory over Antalyaspor.

June 2025: Süper Lig Goal of the Season Award

On 17 June 2025, Osimhen's bicycle kick goal in Galatasaray's 3–0 win against Antalyaspor was voted the Süper Lig goal of the season.

July 2025: Signed Contract with Galatasaray

In July 2025, Osimhen reached an agreement with Galatasaray and signed a 4-year contract on July 31. The net transfer fee was €75 million, making him the player with the highest transfer fee in Turkish football history.

October 2025: Hat-Trick Against Benin

On 14 October 2025, Osimhen scored a hat-trick against Benin in Nigeria’s 4–0 victory, which sealed the Super Eagles’ place in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers playoffs.