Transfer Centre

Chelsea-linked Victor Osimhen announces desire to play in Premier League

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 16 January 2024

Chelsea-linked Osimhen announces desire to play in Premier League

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, who has been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea, reveals that he will 'definitely play in the Premier League one day.'

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has revealed that he will 'definitely play in the Premier League one day.'

The 25-year-old began his professional career with German club Wolfsburg and spent a brief period on loan at Belgian side Charleroi before moving to France to join Lille in 2019.

A year later, Osimhen became the most expensive African footballer of all time when he completed a €80m transfer to Italian outfit Napoli, where he has established himself as one of the most prolific strikers in Europe.

Osimhen has scored 67 goals in 119 appearances for Napoli, including 26 strikes in 32 Serie A games last season to fire the Partenopei to their first Scudetto title in 33 years.

Last month, the Nigeria international committed his future to Napoli by signing a contract extension until June 2026, but that has not stopped the rumour mill from linking him with a big-money switch elsewhere.

Napoli's Victor Osimhen on September 24, 2023 © Reuters

A recent report claims that Real Madrid are contemplating a move for Osimhen, but the striker has predominantly been linked with a transfer to the Premier League, with Chelsea and Arsenal believed to be at the front of the queue for his signature.

Osimhen appeared to drop a hint over a potential future move to Chelsea when he replied to an image posted by a fan on social media of his younger self wearing a shirt of the West London club.

The striker, who is currently away with Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations, has since offered a fresh update on his future, insisting that he remains happy at Napoli but has aspirations of playing in the English top flight at some stage in his career.

"I'm happy with the president (Aurelio De Laurentiis), I have a good relationship with him, I cannot lie I have a seriously good relationship with him," Osimhen told Sky Sports News following Nigeria's 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea.

Napoli's Victor Osimhen during the warm up before the match on August 27, 2023 © Reuters

"He has been with me since I signed for the club in 2020, I have a good relationship with his family as well and for me, it is always important to have this good relationship to make sure there is nothing wrong with regard to the type of relationship I have with him, and his family.

"So for me, [De Laurentiis] has been the type of president who has been supportive of me outside the pitch, and of course I've tried to give my all to win the Scudetto for them. So for me, it is always important to have this type of relationship and to be happy with the individual and the owner of the club.

"Of course, one day definitely [will play in the Premier League], but now I have other plans in my career I'm looking forward to, but when the time comes, everyone will know."

Napoli, who currently sit eighth in the Serie A table and 20 points behind leaders Inter Milan, are under no pressure to sell their star striker, who is believed to be valued in excess of £100m.

Osimhen is highly unlikely to leave Napoli in January, but speculation over his future is expected to resurface heading into the summer transfer window.