Victor Osimhen was born on 29th December 1998 in the Olusosun area of Oregun, Lagos State. He was the last born of six siblings: two brothers and four sisters.
His father, Patrick Osimhen, was from Esan in Edo State, while his mother hailed from the Ukwuani area in Delta State.
Both of his parents are deceased. Victor’s mother died when he was still a child, and his father passed away in 2020.
Victor came from a very poor family. He sold pure water and snacks in the hot traffic of Lagos and also worked as a labourer. His eldest brother, Andrew, sold newspapers by the roadside to support the family, while his sister traded goods to support Victor’s football dreams.
Victor’s journey to Europe began in 2014 when he was invited to a U17 screening in Abuja by a scout named Shira Ayila, brother of former Nigeria international Yussuf Ayila. Osimhen didn’t have enough money to book a flight, so he travelled by road—enduring the rigours of over 500 kilometres in Ayila’s car alongside five others.
Victor arrived on time for the screening, which featured many applicants. Former Nigerian international Emmanuel Amunike was the U17 coach at the time. He gave them just 15 minutes to train. Victor made the best of it, scoring a brace, but Amunike initially wasn’t convinced, believing he was too small. However, a staff member urged him to reconsider, recognizing Victor’s brilliance, hunger, and uprightness.
He was named in the 2015 U17 Africa Cup of Nations squad, where he finished as top scorer with four goals. His outstanding display earned him a spot in the U17 World Cup squad later that year. It was during that tournament that the world began to hear the name Victor Osimhen—he won the Golden Boot with 10 goals, helping Nigeria lift the trophy.
Following the tournament, Victor attracted offers from several top European clubs, including Arsenal, Wolfsburg, and Tottenham Hotspur. His family opted for Wolfsburg, hoping it would aid his development and provide regular game time. He signed for the German side in January 2017.
However, his time at Wolfsburg didn’t go as planned. He struggled with injuries and made just 14 appearances over two seasons.
In August 2018, he joined Belgian club Charleroi on loan, and for the first time in Europe, he truly enjoyed his football. He scored 20 goals in 36 appearances, prompting the club to make the move permanent in May 2019 for €3.5 million.
Just three months later, Victor signed for French side Lille for €12 million, brought in as Nicolas Pépé’s replacement. He scored 13 league goals in 27 games, an impressive tally considering the team’s lack of creativity at the time. His form caught the attention of Napoli, who signed him in July 2020 for a club-record €70 million.
At Napoli, Victor reached his peak. He helped the club win their first Serie A title in 33 years during the 2022/2023 season, finishing as the league’s top scorer with 26 goals. He cemented his legacy by winning the CAF African Footballer of the Year award.
After Napoli’s Scudetto triumph, Victor had a fallout with club president Aurelio De Laurentiis over his desire to leave. The president insisted he wouldn’t sell Victor for less than €113 million. Victor remained at the club during the 2023/2024 season, but he made it clear he wanted to move on. De Laurentiis later agreed to sell him for €80–85 million.
On August 31st, Chelsea reached a transfer agreement with Napoli worth €80–85 million, but after 24 hours of negotiations, the deal collapsed due to failure to agree on personal terms.
Just days after the failed Chelsea move, Victor joined Galatasaray on loan, where he scored a record-breaking 37 goals and provided 6 assists, becoming the foreign player with the most goals in a single Turkish season. He led Galatasaray to a league and cup double and quickly became a cult hero. Fans launched a social media campaign tagged #VictorStayWithUs, pleading for him to remain. He eventually agreed to personal terms, and as of summer 2025, Galatasaray is finalizing negotiations to keep him permanently.
Victor has also made an impact with the Nigerian national team. He is currently Nigeria’s second-highest all-time goal scorer, behind the late Rashidi Yekini. He played a key role in helping Nigeria reach the 2023 AFCON final, where they narrowly lost to Ivory Coast.
Now 26 year old Victor has grown from the little boy that appeared at the global stage for the first time as a 16 year old in an U17 FIFA tournament to becoming a global football icon. His story just shows with prayer, dedication and hardwork success impossible is nothing.
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