Victor Osimhen’s much-anticipated transfer from Napoli to Al-Ahli, which had captivated the football world, unexpectedly collapsed in the final stages of negotiation. The Nigerian striker, who had been on the verge of a high-profile move to Saudi Arabia, now faces an uncertain future at Napoli, with the possibility of being sidelined for the next six months. Here are the three critical reasons why the transfer fell through.
One of the primary factors behind the collapse of the deal was a sudden and unexpected price hike by Napoli.
Initially, the Italian club had valued Osimhen at €130 million.
In an effort to facilitate the transfer, Napoli later agreed to lower their asking price to around €80 million, a figure that seemed agreeable to Al-Ahli.
However, in the crucial final hours of negotiations, Napoli raised their asking price by an additional €5 million.
This unexpected change in terms came as a shock to Al-Ahli, who had been prepared to finalize the deal at the previously discussed amount.
Frustrated by the late-stage shift in demands, the Saudi club decided to walk away from the table, leading to the breakdown of the transfer.
While Napoli’s last-minute price change played a significant role in the failed transfer, Osimhen’s personal preference also contributed to the collapse.
Despite the lucrative offer from Al-Ahli—reportedly a four-year contract worth €40 million per season, totaling €160 million—Osimhen remained hesitant about the move to Saudi Arabia.
Instead, the 24-year-old striker expressed a strong desire to continue his career in Europe, particularly with a transfer to the English Premier League.
Chelsea had shown persistent interest in the Nigerian star, although they were unable to match the financial terms offered by Al-Ahli.
Osimhen’s hope of securing a move to Chelsea significantly dampened Al-Ahli’s enthusiasm, as the Saudi club began to question his commitment to joining their squad.
This reluctance from Osimhen ultimately cooled the negotiations and further complicated the potential transfer.
As negotiations for Osimhen grew increasingly challenging, Al-Ahli turned their attention to another target: Brentford’s English striker Ivan Toney.
Al-Ahli quickly moved to secure Toney’s signature, and the player underwent a medical in London on deadline day to finalize his move.
Toney’s arrival provided Al-Ahli with a capable alternative to Osimhen, reducing the urgency for them to meet Napoli’s heightened financial demands.
Moreover, Toney’s signing filled the last available foreign player slot in Al-Ahli’s squad, effectively closing the door on Osimhen’s potential move to the Saudi club.
With their roster now complete and no further room for another international player, Al-Ahli had no reason to continue pursuing Osimhen, resulting in the definitive collapse of the transfer.
Osimhen’s future now remains uncertain.
With his dream of a Premier League move still unresolved and the opportunity to join Al-Ahli gone, the striker finds himself in limbo.
While his talent and goal-scoring prowess make him a highly coveted player, the failure of this high-stakes transfer has left his immediate prospects unclear.
