Salernitana make transfer decision on Super Eagles star with Serie A record smashed by Victor Osimhen

Serie B side Salernitana have decided to part ways with Nigerian striker Simeon ‘Simy’ Nwankwo, bringing an end to their association with the Super Eagles star, Soccernet.ng reports.

Simy initially joined Salernitana from Crotone in 2021 on a season-long loan, following the club’s promotion to Serie A.

In January 2022, Salernitana made the move permanent, paying €3.5 million for his rights. However, just three weeks later, he was loaned to Parma for the remainder of the season, with an option to buy. Parma did not trigger the clause, leading to another loan spell at Benevento in the 2022-23 season.

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Last season, Simy scored three goals in 15 games as Salernitana were relegated from Serie A. He came close to leaving the club in the summer but ultimately stayed, netting three goals in 17 Serie B matches this term.

However, Salernitana appear to have had enough, and according to Italian transfer expert Nico Schira, the club is in talks to terminate Simy’s contract this January—six months before it expires.

Despite his recent struggles, Simy remains one of Nigeria’s most successful footballers in Italian football history.

During the 2019–20 Serie B campaign, he became the first African player to finish as top scorer in an Italian professional league, netting 20 goals for Crotone. Victor Osimhen later equaled that feat, becoming the first African to top Serie A’s scoring charts in the 2022-23 season.

Simy remains Crotone’s all-time top scorer with 66 goals across all competitions. He also once held the record as Nigeria’s highest goalscorer in Serie A, surpassing former Inter Milan star Obafemi Martins.

However, Osimhen overtook Simy’s Serie A goal tally in 2023, cementing his place as Nigeria’s leading scorer in the competition.

Currently, Osimhen leads the all-time goals chart for Nigerian players in Italy’s Serie A with 65 goals, while Simy and Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman are tied for second place with 34 goals each.