Chelsea are on the cusp of shattering their decade-long transfer policy by pursuing an £84.5 million deal for Napoli’s prolific striker Victor Osimhen, with negotiations set to intensify after the June 30, 2025, Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) deadline.
The move, reported by football.london, marks a significant shift for the Blues, who have not signed two senior strikers in the same transfer window since 2014 under Jose Mourinho, when they brought in Didier Drogba, Loic Remy, and Diego Costa.
The 26-year-old Nigerian’s potential arrival alongside Liam Delap’s £30 million signing from Ipswich Town signals Enzo Maresca’s intent to overhaul Chelsea’s attack for the 2025/26 season.
Osimhen, who scored 37 goals and provided eight assists in 41 appearances during a loan spell at Galatasaray last season, has long been a target for Chelsea. His 26 goals in 30 Turkish Super Lig matches, coupled with his 2022/23 Serie A title-winning campaign with Napoli (31 goals in 39 games), make him a proven elite forward.
The £84.5 million fee, lower than Napoli’s £113 million release clause, reflects Chelsea’s strategic timing post-PSR deadline, leveraging the £38 million sale of Romelu Lukaku to Napoli and potential exits like Christopher Nkunku and Raheem Sterling to ease financial constraints.
Osimhen’s preference for a permanent move to the Premier League, as confirmed by his rejection of a £42.6 million-per-year Al-Hilal offer, has kept Chelsea in pole position despite interest from Manchester United and Arsenal.
The deal, however, faces hurdles. Osimhen’s £500,000 weekly wage demands, revealed by The Sun, previously derailed talks in August 2024, with Chelsea offering £130,000 per week.
While recent reports suggest a compromise is near, the Blues’ cautious approach to PSR—highlighted by David Ornstein’s note on their need to “cut their cloth accordingly”—means the transfer may involve a loan with an obligation to buy, a structure Osimhen has resisted.
Fans on social media are divided, with some, like @ChelseaRooter, citing a £22 million wage warning, while others, like @Friyolinho, celebrate the potential rule-breaking move.
Maresca, preparing for tonight’s Club World Cup clash against Benfica without the suspended Nicolas Jackson and injured Enzo Fernandez, sees Osimhen as a transformative addition to complement Delap’s physicality.
With Chelsea’s revenue boosted by Champions League qualification and a potential £200 million from a deep Club World Cup run, the financial gamble could pay off. If finalized, Osimhen’s signing would redefine Chelsea’s attack, but his absence for up to 10 matches due to AFCON commitments in December 2025-January 2026 looms as a challenge.
