Victor Osimhen’s name rarely escapes debate when talk turns to the Premier League, but oddly, it’s often not in the way it should.
While players like Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, and even Ivan Toney have earned widespread praise for hitting double digits in England’s top flight, the 26-year-old Nigeria international, who has conquered Ligue 1, Serie A, and now Turkey, is somehow still deemed “unfit” for the English game by fans, pundits, and even some ex-players.
It’s a tired and lazy argument that he’s too raw. That he’s all energy and no finesse. His game isn’t technical enough to handle Premier League defenders. The numbers, and more importantly, the eye test, say otherwise.
Osimhen’s CV tells the story
The 2023 CAF Men’s Player of the Year delivered Napoli’s first Serie A title in over 30 years with a league-best 26 goals in the 2022/23 campaign and won the Capocannoniere. The following season, even after battling injuries and internal politics, Osimhen still scored 17 times before being shipped out to Galatasaray last summer.
That move to Turkey was seen as a step down. Some doubted he’d even hit five goals. Galatasaray, fearing he might flop, reportedly inserted a clause penalising him financially if he didn’t hit a minimum tally. That clause didn’t age well.
The former Lille youngster has since scored 21 goals and added four assists in just 24 league appearances. He’s bullied defenders, led the line with purpose, and kept Gala in the title race from start till this run in. Turkey may not be England, but its top division is physical, direct, and tactically disciplined, and the Super Eagles star has looked a class above.
For those of you saying Osimhen won’t adapt to the Premier League, here’s a comp of Osimhen vs Prem defenders 👀pic.twitter.com/sGjD4vJtJa
— TheEnzoLad (@TheEnzoLad) January 1, 2024
Victor Osimhen is Premier League-ready in every sense
What separates the FIFA U-17 World Cup goal king from many strikers is his relentlessness. He thrives on chaos, presses hard, forces mistakes. Attacks space like a heat-seeking missile. In an era where high defensive lines and aggressive pressing are the norm, his profile is tailor-made for the Premier League.
He's also no system player. He’s flourished in different leagues, under different coaches, with wildly different setups. That level of versatility and adaptability is exactly what the English game demands.
And while many Premier League strikers rely on structure to deliver, the 26-year-old often creates his own moments out of nothing. It’s no wonder Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, PSG and Juventus are circling. His €75 million release clause becomes active this summer, and Napoli are ready to cash in.
Mbeumo has 18 goals and Wissa has 16 goals in the prem. They both play for Brentford. You know how mad that is
— Charmelo Anthony (@CharmPicks) April 20, 2025
The myth that the Premier League would expose him says more about the people peddling it than about the player himself.
Give him the platform, the support, and the right setup, and Osimhen won’t just survive in the Premier League. He’ll thrive. The only question is who’s brave enough to bet on it before it’s too late.
