Galatasaray S.K.’s record-breaking move for Victor Osimhen has lifted the club to the top of Turkish football’s valuation rankings, but the deal is now placing serious strain on its finances.
The €75 million transfer of the Nigerian striker was celebrated as a landmark signing. However, growing concerns have emerged after reports that some players have gone unpaid for as long as three months.
Osimhen’s overall financial commitment to the club is estimated at nearly €159 million across the length of his contract. This figure includes structured instalments for the transfer fee, alongside a reported €15 million net annual salary, which increases to roughly €21 million per year when loyalty bonuses and image rights are factored in.
Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk has publicly acknowledged the scale of the expense, describing Osimhen’s wages as a heavy financial load — comparable to funding an entire starting lineup.
The size of the deal is reportedly restricting the club’s financial flexibility under both Turkish Football Federation and UEFA regulations. These financial worries have surfaced at a sensitive time, following a 2–0 league defeat to Konyaspor that has intensified the Süper Lig title race.
Osimhen was absent from the matchday squad for that fixture due to precautionary concerns over pain in his right knee.
Within the club, there are said to be increasing doubts about the long-term sustainability of Galatasaray’s aggressive spending approach, which largely depends on securing domestic titles and progressing deep into European competitions.
Although Osimhen-related shirt sales and sponsorship activities are believed to have generated around €31 million, this income has reportedly fallen short of covering immediate wage obligations.
As things stand, Galatasaray’s board has yet to issue an official response to the salary delay claims. Meanwhile, rivals Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş are closely watching the situation, aware that any financial instability could reshape the competitive balance of Turkish football.
