Victor Osimhen

Victor James Osimhen (born 29 December 1998) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for club Napoli and the Nigeria national team.

Regarded as one of the best players in the world, he is known for his elite finishing, pace, strength and athleticism.

Out with an injury upon his arrival, he made his Bundesliga debut for Wolfsburg on 13 May, coming on as a substitute in the 59th minute in a 1–1 draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Osimhen won the Golden Boot award at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, which Nigeria won.

In January 2016, after being noticed for his performances at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Osimhen committed to a pre-contract with VfL Wolfsburg, stipulating that he would officially join the club in January 2017.

Osimhen also came on the following week in a pivotal relegation tie against Hamburger SV, on what was the final match day of the 2016–17 season.

He replaced defender Sebastian Jung with the score tied 1–1, and Hamburg scored a late winner to pass Wolfsburg in the table, sending Wolfsburg to a relegation playoff with Eintracht Braunschweig.

Osimhen was in the squad for both matches, receiving a cameo at the end of the second leg with Wolfsburg's participation in the next Bundesliga confirmed, as they won 2–0 on aggregate.

Born in Nigeria, Osimhen began his senior career in Germany at VfL Wolfsburg in 2017.

He made his senior international debut in June 2017, and played at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019 and 2023, reaching the final of the latter tournament.

He is currently the joint-third all-time highest goalscorer of the Nigeria national team.

On 29 May 2023, Osimhen was made a Member of the Federal Republic by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Osimhen finished in eighth place at the 2023 Ballon d'Or ceremony, becoming the first Nigerian to make the top ten of the French award.

He was also named the African Footballer of the Year at the 2023 CAF Awards, the first Nigerian to receive this honour since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.

Osimhen was born in Lagos, whose parents hail from Edo State.

He grew up in the Olusosun area in Oregun/Ojota of Lagos State.

Growing up, his footballing idol was Didier Drogba.

Osimhen started his career at the Ultimate Strikers Academy, based in Lagos, Nigeria.

On 5 January 2017, Osimhen officially signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with the club, lasting until June 2020.

Osimhen was named in 12 of the 17 matchday squads in the first half of the 2017–18 season, appearing in 5 games.

Following a season and a half at the club, he moved to Belgian side Charleroi on loan in 2018–19, before moving to Ligue 1 with Lille, scoring eighteen goals in his sole season with the French club.

He earned his full Bundesliga debut on 28 January 2018 against Hannover, playing the full 90 minutes in their 1–0 win.

Osimhen made two more starts the rest of the campaign, playing the full match against Werder Bremen on 11 February and being replaced at the half by Daniel Didavi against Hertha Berlin on 31 March.

Wolfsburg were again in the relegation playoff, but Osimhen missed out through injury.

He also appeared in one game of Wolfsburg's DFB Pokal campaign, replacing midfielder Josuha Guilavogui for the last ten minutes of their 1–0 defeat to Schalke in the quarter-final.

Osimhen underwent shoulder surgery on 2 May, ending his season with 12 appearances in the Bundesliga to his name.

Osimhen had summer trials with Belgian clubs Zulte Waregem and Club Brugge, who were the reigning champions.

However, a summer bout with malaria had affected his physical condition, and neither club decided to take him on loan.

On 22 August 2018, Osimhen joined Belgian club Charleroi on a season-long loan deal, having failed to score in any of his 16 appearances with Wolfsburg.

He replaced the departed Kaveh Rezaei, who was sold to Club Brugge after scoring 3 goals in the first three games of the season.

Osimhen made his debut on 1 September against Excel Mouscron, entering as a late substitute for Jérémy Perbet.

Osimhen made his full debut on 22 September, scoring his first goal as a professional with a backheel against Waasland-Beveren.

Waasland-Beveren would equalise against 10-man Charleroi, and Perbet would later get sent off in the game as well, aiding manager Felice Mazzu's selection up top.

Osimhen would start with Adama Niane for the next four games, scoring the club's only goal in losses to Cercle Brugge and Gent.

He also scored twice in the last five minutes in a 3–2 win over Zulte Waregem on 21 October, after Hamdi Harbaoui had given Waregem a 2–1 lead with a second half brace.

Osimhen was not dropped from the side until 25 November, when he scored a goal off the bench in the club's 4–2 win over Lokeren.

In 2020, Osimhen transferred to Serie A side Napoli for a club-record fee of €70 million, and won the Serie A Best Young Player award in the 2021–22 season.

In the following campaign, he finished as the league's top scorer with 26 goals, a record-high for an African player, as he helped Napoli win a first Serie A title for 33 years.

For his efforts, he won the league's Best Striker award, before also being named Serie A Footballer of the Year a few months later.

Osimhen is currently the highest scoring African player in the history of Serie A.