- Former Chelsea defender Mikel Obi reveals why Osimhen’s Chelsea transfer fell through
- John Mikel Obi believes both sides did their best to complete the transfer despite the result
- Super Eagles forward, Osimhen joined Galatasaray on loan after being sidelined at Napoli
Former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel has revealed the reasons behind Victor Osimhen’s missed transfer to Stamford Bridge, a move that had the potential to transform Chelsea’s attacking lineup.
Despite Romelu Lukaku's departure to Napoli opening a door for the Nigerian striker, the transfer did not go through, with Osimhen eventually making a switch to Galatasaray on loan.
However, as Mikel revealed on The Obi One Podcast, certain procedural hurdles, including paperwork and medical concerns, led to the deal’s failure.
“I know what Victor wanted, I know what the club offered him, I know where we got to, we finally got to a compromise, both sides had to compromise, I was just some little things here and there, paperwork, medical, and a few issues we just couldn’t get over the line, and we didn’t have much time,” Mikel explained.
Chelsea had set their sights on securing Osimhen, particularly following Lukaku’s sale to Napoli for £30 million, but time worked against them. Mikel praised both Chelsea and Osimhen for their determination to finalise the deal, emphasising the ambition of both sides.
“Both sides really played their part in terms of getting the deal done, and I commend Chelsea for that because I can see their ambition of where they want to take this club now and also on Victor’s side, how much he really wanted to come to the club,” he said.
Despite the setback, Osimhen remains a player Chelsea fans can look forward to seeing at Stamford Bridge in the future. Mikel emphasized that there are no lingering issues between the two parties, and the move could still happen in the next transfer window.
“I think if we have to pick this back up again like I said, whenever it is, January or next summer, we know where we are, we know where we’ve stopped, and it’s just little details that need to be finalized and the deal will be done,” Mikel assured fans.
After being sidelined by Napoli, Osimhen quickly jumped on the opportunity to join Galatasaray on loan, sealing the deal with the Turkish champions last week.
His late arrival to the Super Eagles squad for the AFCON qualifiers was a result of this transfer, but the striker has already proven his worth, scoring in Nigeria’s win against Benin on Saturday. He will be looking to add more goals when Nigeria faces Rwanda tomorrow.
“Score consistently and I'll shut up,” Mikel Obi fires back at Nicholas Jackson
Previously, TheRadar reported that after Chelsea’s commanding 6-2 victory over Wolves, Jackson took to social media to address Mikel directly, writing, “@Mikel_john_obi shut your mouth. Don’t talk s***, we are killing ourselves for Africa.”
Reacting to Jackson’s response, Mikel Obi spoke on his podcast, The Obi One, on Monday, August 26, “I really like the guy as a football player. I like him. There’s something there as a football player. I haven’t said that he’s a bad player at all. I’ve just said that his finishing qualities, it’s not there yet.”
