Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen is set to make his debut for Turkish giants Galatasaray in their Turkish Super Lig clash against Rizespor at RAMS Park in Istanbul on Saturday. The 25-year-old striker joined Galatasaray on loan from Italian club Napoli during the summer transfer window and is expected to lead the team’s attack in this highly anticipated week 5 fixture.
Osimhen’s move to Galatasaray came as a surprise after potential big-money transfers to Chelsea and Al Ahli failed to happen. Despite these missed opportunities, the Nigerian forward has quickly become a fan favorite in Istanbul. When he arrived in the city, thousands of Galatasaray fans gathered at the airport in the early hours of the morning to welcome him.
After completing his international duties with the Nigerian national team, Osimhen returned to Istanbul and participated in his first training session with Galatasaray on Thursday, September 12. He joins former Napoli teammate Dries Mertens at the Turkish club, rekindling their successful partnership from their time in Italy.
Osimhen is coming off a strong performance for Nigeria, where he scored in a 3-0 victory over Benin Republic in an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifier. With Galatasaray’s usual striker, Mauro Icardi, sidelined due to injury, Osimhen is expected to take on a key role in the attack for Saturday’s match.
The game will also feature a Nigerian connection on both sides of the field. Rizespor, Galatasaray’s opponent, has Nigerian players Ibrahim Olawoyin, Okechukwu Azubuike, and Babajide David in their lineup. This adds an extra layer of excitement as Osimhen goes head-to-head with his compatriots.
Galatasaray enters the match in strong form, currently sitting second in the Super Lig standings with nine points from three games. The team has won all their league matches so far this season, including a dominant 5-1 victory over Adana Demirspor in week 2. They will be looking to extend their winning streak with Osimhen leading the charge.
In contrast, Rizespor has struggled in recent weeks. They are in 12th place with just four points from four matches and are coming off two consecutive defeats. They suffered a heavy 5-0 loss to Fenerbahce and followed it up with a 1-0 defeat against Kasimpasa. Rizespor will be aiming to bounce back and improve their standing in the league.
Historically, Galatasaray has the upper hand in their head-to-head matchups with Rizespor, having won 11 of their previous encounters. There have also been eight draws between the two teams. Galatasaray will be hoping to continue their dominance in this fixture.