In a shocking twist in the 2024 summer transfer saga, Victor Osimhen’s highly anticipated move to Chelsea has fallen through.
The deal fell through with only two hours left before the transfer window closed, after the Nigerian forward and the Premier League club were unable to reach an agreement.
Osimhen’s chances of transferring to Saudi Arabia have also faded.
Al Ahli, a prospective contender for the Nigerian striker, opted to sign Brentford’s Ivan Toney on deadline day instead.
The loss of the Chelsea transaction is exacerbated by a serious breakdown in Osimhen’s relationship with Napoli.
According to Romano, if no additional bids are received before the Saudi League transfer window ends, Osimhen faces being frozen out of Napoli’s first-team squad.
“Deal is completely off for Victor Osimhen. No agreement with Chelsea, and the Chelsea delegation is now leaving Napoli. If nothing happens from Saudi Arabia in the Arabia in the next 3 days, Osimhen will stay at Napoli, but he’s not going to be part of the first-team squad. The relationship (with Napoli) is currently completely broken,” the transfer specialist tweeted on his verified X, formerly Twitter, page on Friday night.
Napoli had previously agreed on a fee of around £67 million with Saudi outfit Al Ahli overnight, but Sky Sports reported that the latter is understood to be unhappy because Napoli demanded more money for Osimhen, prompting the Saudi side to pursue a deal for Brentford striker Ivan Toney for £40 million, with the Englishman having already had his medical in London on deadline day.
The Saudi side, known for their strong financial backing, insisted on signing only one of Osimhen or Toney, implying that they would be unable to sign both players, and Al Ahli compromised for Toney’s less complex deal.
Romano tweeted, “Ivan Toney to Al Ahli, here we go! The deal is completed between clubs with Brentford for a £40m package. Medical done, contract agreed, and Ivan will travel to Saudi Arabia this weekend to be presented. The Osimhen deal is off today, and Toney is now finally done.”
As Chelsea’s chase falters, other suitors, like Paris Saint-Germain, have refused to reemerge and have dropped out of the race entirely after Napoli refused to lower their asking price.
Many were not surprised by the aborted move to the Al Ahli League because the 25-year-old reigning African Player of the Year’s agent, Roberto Calenda, announced a few days ago that they would not accept the move and that Osimhen wishes to remain in Europe.
“Osimhen is a Napoli player, with a contract recently renewed to our mutual satisfaction. He made history in blue, and when there were important offers (this year too), we always accepted the club’s decisions.
“As I have already said, he is not a package to be sent far away to make room for new prophets. Victor was elected African Footballer of the Year, eighth in the Ballon d’Or; he still has a lot to say in Europe. Respect and balance are needed,” Calenda said.
