From Onyekuru To Osimhen: Meet 6 Nigerians Who Have Played for Galatasaray

Victor Osimhen has completed his permanent switch from Napoli to Galatasaray, becoming the sixth Nigerian footballer to play for the club.

Osimhen spent last season on loan at the club after Napoli botched his permanent exit and helped them win the Turkish Super League and Ziraat Cup double.

He decided to continue in Turkey despite a lucrative offer from Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal and interest from top European clubs.

As broadcast by Galatasaray TV, he arrived in Istanbul on Wednesday evening to a crowd of supporters who had been waiting to welcome him.

His haul of 37 goals and eight assists last season endeared him to the fans, and it was a delight for them to see him sign for the club permanently.

Legit.ng looks at other Nigerian players who have featured for the Turkish champions, as noted by Transfermarkt.

Nigerians who have played for Galatasaray 

1. Oghenekaro Etebo

Former Super Eagles midfielder played for the Lions in the 2020/21 season on loan from English club Stoke City. He featured in 29 games but failed to score nor did he assist, and returned to England at the end of the season. The 29-year-old currently plays for Gençlerbirliği in the second division of Turkish football.

2. Henry Onyekuru

Onyekuru played for Galatasaray in three spells, all of which came on separate loans. He joined on loan from Everton in the 2018/19 season, after which he was sold to AS Monaco. He returned to Galatasaray in January 2020 on loan until the end of the season and had another six months from January to June 2021.

He scored 22 goals and provided 11 assists in 72 games and won the league and cup double in 2019. He recently joined Etebo at TFF First League side Gençlerbirliği.

3. Jesse Sekidika

Port Harcourt-born winger Sekidika has spent the majority of his career in Turkey. He was on Galatasaray’s books for two seasons and featured in 12 games. He went on loan at Konyaspor, OH Leuven and Eyüpspor. He currently plays for the Azerbaijani club Sabah.

4. Valentine Ozornwafor

Ozornwafor joined Galatasaray from the Nigeria Premier Football League side Enyimba in 2019 and was signed at the club for three years. He went on loan at Almeria and Sporting Charleroi before signing for the latter permanently in 2022. He currently plays for Septemvri Sofia in Bulgaria.

5. Dominic Iorfa

Iorfa was the first Nigerian to play for Galatasaray in 1991 when he signed from Queens Park Rangers, but was sold to Peterborough seven months later. In his 16-year career, he played for 22 clubs, including seven clubs in 1998. He retired from Lobi Stars in 2000.

Super Falcons star Oluwatosin Demehin signed for Galatasaray women’s team last summer, weeks after Osimhen joined on a season-long loan.

Osimhen made a promise to Galatasaray fans

Legit.ng reported that Osimhen promised Galatasaray fans that he and his teammates would fight to bring success to the club after joining permanently. Thousands of Galatasaray fans followed his flight live and welcomed him at the Atatürk International Airport in Istanbul on Wednesday evening.