Everything You Wanted to Know About Victor Osimhen

BIOGRAPHY

Victor Osimhen is a Nigerian striker who made a name for himself through his speed, strength, and ability to decide key moments inside the penalty area. He began his football journey in his homeland at the Ultimate Strikers academy, and after an outstanding performance at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, he attracted the attention of leading European clubs. There were trials and interest from teams in England and Germany, but in the end Osimhen chose Wolfsburg — the agreement came into effect at the beginning of 2017. He made his Bundesliga debut on 13 May 2017 in a match against Borussia Mönchengladbach.

In order to gain consistent playing time, in the summer of 2018 he went on loan to Belgian club Charleroi and quickly became a notable figure: he made his league debut on 1 September and scored his first goal on 22 September. At the end of the season, the Belgian club signed him permanently. The following summer Osimhen received an offer from Russia, but he preferred to continue his career in a top league and in August 2019 moved to Lille, where he scored a brace in his debut match for the club.

In the summer of 2020, Osimhen became Napoli’s record signing: the transfer fee amounted to €70 million plus bonuses. In Italy, he established himself as a key forward, regularly scoring in Serie A and European competitions, netted a hat-trick against Sassuolo, and delivered strong performances in the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League season. That same season he helped Napoli win the Italian championship, and in December 2023 he extended his contract with the club until 2026.

His career then took him to Turkey: in September 2024, Galatasaray signed the striker on a season-long loan, and on 31 July 2025 completed a permanent transfer. The deal was worth €75 million, setting a record for the Turkish Süper Lig, and the player signed a four-year contract.

PERSONAL LIFE

Victor Osimhen has repeatedly spoken about his difficult childhood: after his mother’s death, he helped support his family by working on the streets — selling sachets of drinking water and newspapers in traffic. According to him, those years greatly shaped his character and became the source of his discipline and resilience.

Osimhen is a Christian. In public interviews, he has said that he is inspired by the example of Sadio Mané, who supports his community in Senegal, and has spoken about his desire to help people with disabilities across the African continent.

The footballer has also confirmed his relationship with Stefanie Kim Ladevig (a model born in Germany). The couple has a daughter: in October 2022, Osimhen announced the birth of their first child — a girl named Hailey.

INTERESTING FACTS

• The youngest of six children. Victor was born on 29 December 1998 in Lagos and grew up in the Olusosun area (Oregun, Ikeja). His family roots trace back to Edo State (Esan South East).
• The meaning of his surname. In the Ishan language, the surname Osimhen translates as “God is good.”
• Breakthrough at the 2015 U-17 World Cup. At the tournament in Chile, Osimhen scored 10 goals in 7 matches, became the top scorer (Golden Boot), and received the Silver Ball award.
• U-17 tournament record. His 10 goals set a new FIFA U-17 World Cup record, surpassing the previous mark of 9 goals.
• Africa’s Best Youth Player (2015). In the same year, Victor received the CAF Youth Player of the Year award.
• Childhood idol — Didier Drogba. Osimhen has openly said that he admired the fighting spirit and competitive mentality of the Chelsea legend.
• Turned down Arsenal after speaking with Wenger. After the youth World Cup, he spoke with Arsène Wenger, but at that moment decided that he needed a path where he would gain stable playing time faster and physically develop.
• Marc-Vivien Foé Award in France. Following his season at Lille, he received the Marc-Vivien Foé award as the best African player in Ligue 1.
• Nickname “Mister Hat-Trick.” In Naples, he earned this nickname after an impressive pre-season in which he scored two hat-tricks in his first two friendly matches.