'Never seen this in 20 years' - Super Eagles legend Ideye blasts Napoli's shocking Osimhen clause

Super Eagles icon Brown Ideye has launched a scathing attack on Napoli over a shocking clause in Victor Osimhen’s €80 million transfer to Galatasaray, which prohibits the Turkish club from selling the striker to any European club for two years. 

As Nigeria’s football community continues to come to terms with Osimhen’s move, Ideye’s criticism shows a controversial twist in the deal that has sparked widespread debate.

The 26-year-old Super Eagles star has agreed a permanent transfer from Napoli to Galatasaray, per transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, following a successful loan spell in the 2024-25 season where he scored an astonishing 37 goals and provided eight assists in 41 appearances. 

The deal, valued at €75 million, includes: €40 million upfront payment, with €35 million to be paid in two installments by the end of 2026, and a €5 million performance-related bonus.

A 10% sell-on clause, reduced from an initial 20%, ensuring Napoli benefits from any future transfer.

A three-year contract until June 2028, with an option to extend for another season, and a staggering €16-20 million per season salary, making Osimhen one of the highest-paid players in the Turkish Super Lig.

Osimhen’s decision to return to Galatasaray came despite interest from top European clubs, including Manchester United, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain. 

Reports indicate he was swayed by Galatasaray’s ambitious project to dominate domestically and compete in the UEFA Champions League, along with the passionate support of their fans.

The transfer agreement includes an unprecedented clause that has raised eyebrows across the football world: Galatasaray is barred from selling Osimhen to any European club until July 2027. 

Additionally, an “anti-Serie A” clause prevents his return to Italy’s top flight within the same period, protecting Napoli from facing their former star.

Super Eagles legend and 2013 AFCON winner Ideye took to X to express his shock, describing the clause as a “never seen or heard” restriction in his 20 years of professional football. 

In his post, Ideye questioned Napoli’s motives, writing, “Gala can’t sell a player they bought for 2 years to an Europe club - what is Napoli scared of? This is more than just a transfer. Time will tell.” 

His comments have fueled discussions among fans and pundits, with many speculating that Napoli’s president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, included the clause to maintain control over Osimhen’s market value and prevent a quick resale to a rival European giant.

Ideye, a former Dynamo Kyiv and West Bromwich Albion striker, brings significant weight to the conversation with his extensive experience across European leagues. 

His criticism underlines the unusual nature of the clause, which deviates from standard transfer agreements. Typically, sell-on clauses and release clauses are used to protect a selling club’s financial interests, but a blanket ban on transfers to an entire continent for two years is rare and restrictive. 

This clause could limit Osimhen’s career mobility, especially given his expressed desire to play in the Premier League.

Ideye’s social media blast has resonated with fans, sparking trending discussions on X about Napoli’s hardline negotiation tactics and Osimhen’s future. 

The clause raises questions about whether Napoli fears Osimhen’s potential to dominate at a rival club or is simply maximising financial leverage by ensuring Galatasaray cannot profit from a quick sale to Europe’s elite.

Despite the controversy, Osimhen appears focused on his future with Galatasaray. The Nigerian striker, who was named African Footballer of the Year in 2023, rejected lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia, including a reported €40 million per year deal from Al-Hilal, to stay in European football. 

His successful loan spell, where he became the Süper Lig’s top scorer and a fan favourite, convinced him to commit to Galatasaray’s long-term vision.

Osimhen’s camp has remained silent on the controversial clause, but sources suggest he is content with the move, valuing the club’s passionate fanbase and competitive aspirations. 

His new contract, with a reported €16-20 million annual salary, reflects Galatasaray’s commitment to building a squad capable of challenging for domestic and European honors.

Napoli’s inclusion of the no-sale-to-Europe clause and the 10% sell-on fee ensures they maintain a stake in Osimhen’s future transfers while securing a healthy return on their initial €78.9 million investment from Lille in 2020. 

The structured payment plan (€40 million upfront, €35 million in installments, and €5 million in bonuses) and the sell-on clause provide financial security, especially as Osimhen’s contract was set to expire in 2026.

However, the clause has drawn criticism for potentially stifling Osimhen’s career progression. With only one year left on his Napoli contract before the transfer, the Italian club faced pressure to secure a deal, but their insistence on restrictive terms has sparked debate about their treatment of the player who led them to a historic Serie A title in 2022-23.

Whatever the case, while Romano has declared this transfer a ‘Here We Go,’ nothing is official yet from both Napoli and Galatasaray. I strongly believe that the parties involved need to get the deal over with and face their respective jobs on the pitch.