NIGERIA: Mikel Obi Reveals Why Osimhen’s Chelsea Deal Fell Through On Deadline Day

By Onoja Baba, Abuja, Nigeria

Former Super Eagles and Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel, has shed light on why Victor Osimhen’s highly anticipated move from Napoli to Chelsea collapsed at the last minute.

Speaking on his “Obi One Podcast,” on Monday, Mikel disclosed that the Nigerian striker was “very, very close” to joining Chelsea this summer, but the deal fell apart due to minor issues, not greed, as some have speculated.

Mikel, a Chelsea legend, dismissed rumors suggesting that the deal failed because Osimhen was unwilling to take a pay cut. “I hear a lot of people saying this and saying that about Victor and how greedy he is, blah, blah, blah. ‘Take a pay cut and come to Chelsea,’ blah, blah, blah, stuff like that,” Mikel said. “I know the kid. I know the boy. I just want to say that that is not true. Victor is not a greedy boy. He’s not a greedy guy; he only wants to get what he deserves, and that’s not a problem.”

The 25-year-old striker, who was linked to Chelsea and other top clubs in France and Saudi Arabia, had requested a transfer from Napoli amid a strained relationship with the club.

This came a year after he helped Napoli secure their first Serie A title in 33 years and finished as the league’s top scorer with 26 goals. During the transfer window, reports suggested that Osimhen sought a weekly salary of around £500,000, a figure Chelsea was reportedly unable to meet.

Mikel refuted these claims, asserting, “No, he wasn’t asking for all this b******t. I know what happened; I was during everything. So, I can tell everybody that is definitely not true. He just wants to play football and get what he deserves, and that’s not a problem. A player knowing what he’s worth and demanding to be paid what he’s worth, that’s not a problem.”

He further elaborated that the negotiations were very close, but minor issues related to paperwork, medical checks, and other details prevented the finalization of the deal. “Our negotiations were very, very close, but there were just some minor issues and small problems we couldn’t overcome,” Mikel explained.

Following the breakdown of talks with Chelsea, Osimhen opted for a season-long loan move to Turkish Super Lig side Galatasaray.

The move included a new release clause of £75 million with Napoli and a provision for a potential transfer in January if a bigger club shows interest.

Osimhen has quickly made an impact at his new club, scoring in his debut to help Galatasaray to a 3-0 victory in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin Republic.

Expressing his enthusiasm, Osimhen said, “I’m super excited to be part of the Galatasaray family. I can’t wait to give my all for this club and make the most of this new journey with such an amazing group and fans. I’m ready to create unforgettable memories together.”