Arsenal transfer news: Osimhen rejects offer to become Africa’s highest paid star

Victor Osimhen has turned down a huge salary offer that could have made him Africa's number one earning footballer, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Galatasaray striker's decision adds another twist to a transfer battle that has already attracted interest from Saudi Arabia, Spain and England. Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have both been linked with the Galatasaray forward, but the Premier League is still understood to be Osimhen's preferred destination.

According to Turkish journalist Yağız Sabuncuoğlu, Osimhen rejected an offer that would have more than double his Galatasaray salary. It is believed that Galatasaray president Dursun Özbek is also firm on the player's future.

“Dursun Özbek says no matter what, I'm not selling, that's one,” Sabuncuoğlu said.

“Secondly, an offer came to Victor Osimhen for a bit more than double the salary he's earning at Galatasaray. Osimhen also rejected this offer.”

Le Marca Sports confirm that the club behind the salary proposal is Saudi Arabia giants Al Hilal. It claimed that the Saudi club's president, Prince Nawaf Bin Saad, offered €150 million to Galatasaray and also proposed a €50 million annual salary to Osimhen. That transfer fee would have made him the most expensive African signing in history. That salary figure, if accepted, would have also made Osimhen the highest-paid African footballer in the world, taking over from Algeria's Riyad Mahrez.

Former Manchester City star Mahrez had been the African player with the biggest take-home in world football until last month when Al-Ahli announced his exit after three seasons in Saudi Arabia. He earned an annual pay of about €52.2 million.

Osimhen's reported Galatasaray salary is far lower, pegged at about €21 million per year, including bonuses, tax treatment and brand rights. That difference explains why an offer worth more than twice his Galatasaray salary would have been so significant. Yet Osimhen still said no.

Osimhen: Premier League ambition keeps Arsenal and Spurs in the picture

The decision points to a football choice as much as a financial one. Barcelona-linked Osimhen has spent the last two seasons in Turkey after joining Galatasaray from Napoli. He helped the Istanbul club win major domestic honours and established himself as one of the most productive strikers in Europe.

A move to England would give him the chance to compete in the Premier League, a competition he has been linked with several times during his career.

Tottenham entered the race in early August. Reports said Spurs made an initial approach in the region of £50 million to £55 million, while Galatasaray wanted closer to £65 million. Arsenal's interest has also become more serious. The Gunners have held discussions with Galatasaray over players including Ethan Nwaneri and Gabriel Martinelli, with Osimhen's availability also discussed during those talks.

Arsenal have a strong reason to consider another striker. Viktor Gyökeres scored 21 goals last season, but reports say manager Mikel Arteta still wants more attacking options as the club prepares to defend its Premier League title.

Tottenham's need is even clearer. Spurs finished 17th in the 2025-26 Premier League season and only secured survival with a 1-0 home win over Everton on the final day. Their recruitment has since focused on giving Roberto De Zerbi more attacking power.

Sabuncuoğlu also warned that rejecting one huge salary offer does not guarantee Osimhen will stay in Istanbul.

“He wants to (stay at Galatasaray), but remember, when the Atletico rumours came out, I kept saying it would only happen if they offer this salary—they can't. So these salary issues, well, he's happy here for now, but we'll see if that changes down the line.”

That leaves the transfer picture open. Galatasaray want to keep their star striker, while Osimhen has rejected a major financial opportunity. At the same time, Arsenal and Tottenham continue to offer something the unnamed bidder could not and that's a route into the Premier League.

The Nigerian's next decision could therefore be driven less by who pays the most and more by where he wants to test himself next.