After five earlier attempts, Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal have tabled before Victor Osimhen an irresistible offer of €160 Million over the next three years salary deal. The deal translates to €40million a year over the next three years with additional option for an additional year. If the Super Eagles striker accepts this staggering wage offer, it will make him one of the highest paid football stars in the world.
When Saudi giants Al Hilal came calling once again for Victor Osimhen; this time with an eye-watering €160 million salary package over three years, the Nigerian forward found himself at a career crossroads. The offer, now public, would catapult Osimhen into the financial stratosphere of world football, making him one of the highest-paid players on the planet. But beneath the shimmering promise of wealth lies a more critical question: at just 26, should Victor Osimhen trade legacy for lucre? For a player who has battled from the dusty streets of Olusosun to the elite ranks of European football, this moment is about more than money- it is about what kind of career Osimhen wants to build, what kind of footballer he wants to be remembered as.
The Allure of the Saudi Pro League and Its Limits
There is no denying Saudi Arabia’s ambition. The Pro League, backed by the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund, has already lured global icons like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Neymar. Clubs like Al Hilal and Al Nassr have bankrolled football’s most aggressive talent migration scheme, aiming to rebrand the Middle East as a new footballing frontier.
But for all the spectacle, the Saudi Pro League is not Europe. It lacks the competitiveness, history, and prestige of the UEFA Champions League. The pace is slower, the pressure lighter, and the stakes – at least for now – lower. For Osimhen, who is just entering the prime of his career, the decision isn’t just about what he gains financially, but what he risks losing professionally.
Legacy vs. Lifestyle
At 26, Osimhen is not a fading star looking for one last payday. He is a striker who won Italy’s Serie A Capocannoniere (Golden boot) title in 2023, a player courted by top European clubs and one of Africa’s most celebrated exports in the modern era. “Victor is not just a great striker; he’s a force of nature who thrives on pressure,” says Davide Balbo, a Serie A analyst for La Gazzetta Dello Sport. “If he wants to compete with the very best – Mbappé, Haaland, Vinicius – he must stay in Europe. The Champions League is where legends are made, not Riyadh.” While Al Hilal’s proposal may sound “irresistible,” it comes at the potential cost of stalling a career that has not yet reached its full peak.
Saudi League: The Retirement Home in Disguise?
Critics have pointed out that the Saudi Pro League, for all its glamor, is increasingly becoming a lucrative graveyard for aging stars. Few players who have made the jump in their prime have returned to major European relevance afterward. The competitive edge dulls, and the global spotlight dims. “The truth is, the Saudi league is not a talent escalator; it’s a cash haven,” says football economist Kofi Nyarko. “It’s perfect if you’re 34. But if you’re 26, it’s like signing your own footballing obituary.”
The Galatasaray Gamble – and European Exposure
Osimhen’s recent loan spell at Galatasaray showed glimpses of what could come next. Though the Turkish Super Lig isn’t the Premier League or La Liga, Galatasaray’s qualification for the Champions League next season gives the Nigerian a platform to continue showcasing his talent at Europe’s highest stage. Sources suggest that Galatasaray are so determined to keep Osimhen that they’re even exploring selling major assets, including their training complex, to finance the deal. That kind of commitment signals a club willing to build around him, not just benefit from his brand. And then there are whispers from Juventus and clubs in the English Premier League, all watching the situation closely. If Osimhen remains in Europe and performs well next season, a move to one of the game’s elite institutions remains very possible.
It’s Not Just About Football – It’s About Africa’s Story
Osimhen carries more than just his boots onto the pitch. He carries the dreams of millions of young African footballers who see in him a symbol of what talent, discipline, and resilience can achieve. His decisions are magnified far beyond his bank balance. By continuing to compete at the highest level in Europe, Osimhen sustains a story of African excellence at the very heart of world football, not on its periphery. He becomes a role model not just for aspiring Nigerian strikers, but for every young athlete who dreams of reaching the top on merit, not market.
The Final Word: More Than a Paycheck
Victor Osimhen must ask himself: What does he want his career to say when the boots finally come off?
Does he want to be remembered as the striker who took the money and disappeared from relevance at 26, or as the Nigerian forward who dominated Europe, led his country to AFCON glory, and etched his name alongside the greats? The Saudi billions can wait. Legacy cannot.
