Victor Osimhen to Miss Galatasaray’s Season Opener Against Gaziantep

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen will not feature in Galatasaray’s opening match of the 2025/26 Turkish Super Lig season against Gaziantep on Friday.

Osimhen, who recently completed a permanent move to the Turkish champions following a stellar loan spell, was left out of the squad that travelled on Thursday.

Reports indicate the 26-year-old is still working on his fitness, having resumed pre-season training later than the rest of the squad.

During his loan spell last season, Osimhen was in sensational form, netting 37 goals and providing 8 assists in 41 appearances across all competitions. This made him the highest-scoring foreign player in a single Turkish Super Lig campaign, further cementing his status as a fan favourite in Istanbul.

His absence will be a big blow to Galatasaray’s attacking options as they kick off their title defence, but fans will be hopeful of seeing the prolific forward back in action soon.