Chelsea have lost out to Saudi club Al-Ahli in the race to sign Napoli’s star striker, Victor Osimhen. The London club had been working on a potential deal to bring the Nigerian forward to Stamford Bridge since the start of the summer transfer window. However, despite their persistent efforts, it appears they will miss out. According to Sky Sports, Al-Ahli has reached an agreement with Napoli to secure Osimhen’s transfer.
Osimhen has become a top performer since joining Napoli from LOSC Lille in the summer of 2020. He was instrumental in Napoli’s 2022/23 Serie A campaign, contributing 26 goals and 5 assists in 32 league matches, helping them achieve great success. While the 2023/24 season wasn’t as remarkable for Osimhen, he still managed to score 17 goals and provide four assists in all competitions. With two years remaining on his contract, the Nigerian striker has been eager for a new challenge and has been eyeing a move away from Napoli since the summer began.
Chelsea had been keen to add Osimhen to their squad as they sought a world-class striker to lead their young attack. He had been their top target, with discussions of a potential swap deal involving Romelu Lukaku. However, Napoli opted for a separate arrangement for the Belgian forward, complicating Chelsea’s pursuit of Osimhen.
Initially, Napoli held firm on Osimhen’s release clause, but with no club willing to meet their demands, they eventually relaxed their stance on his sale. Chelsea seemed close to finalizing the deal after resolving personal terms with the player, but a last-minute push from Al-Ahli turned the tide in favor of the Saudi Pro League club. Al-Ahli has reportedly agreed on a deal worth approximately €80 million to sign Osimhen and is moving swiftly to finalize the transfer.
The deal is a significant coup for Al-Ahli, who have beaten Chelsea and other interested clubs to the signing of one of Europe’s most sought-after strikers.
