John Obi Mikel Reveals Victor Osimhen’s Interest in Chelsea, But Eyes Still on Premier League Move
Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has confirmed that Victor Osimhen was keen on joining the Blues, but the club opted for a different approach — and now, Arsenal or Manchester United could still secure the Nigerian striker this summer.
Osimhen had an outstanding loan spell at Galatasaray last season, scoring 37 goals in 41 matches. However, Napoli, his parent club, doesn’t plan to reintegrate him under new manager Antonio Conte.
Although Galatasaray hopes to keep him, and lucrative offers are coming from Saudi Arabian clubs like Al-Hilal, Mikel is convinced Osimhen should remain in Europe and pursue his dream of playing in the Premier League.
“I still hope he gets a Premier League move this summer,” Mikel told Metro, emphasizing that clubs like Arsenal and Manchester United still need a quality striker.
Chelsea had been close to signing Osimhen in the past, and Mikel shared that the forward has supported Chelsea since childhood. Despite this, the deal never materialized, and with the Blues now signing young talent Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, they appear to have moved on from Osimhen.
“It’s disappointing he didn’t join Chelsea, the team he grew up supporting,” Mikel said, adding that Osimhen would’ve brought an immediate impact.
Mikel stressed that the striker’s main goal is still to play in the Premier League. He highlighted that both Arsenal and Manchester United need a reliable No. 9 and hinted Osimhen could fill that role — especially at United, where Mikel expressed doubts about Rasmus Højlund’s ability to lead the attack effectively.
“I don’t think Højlund is the answer for United. He works hard but won’t score enough goals to lead them to major success.”
Even with United missing out on European football next season, Mikel believes Osimhen might accept a short-term setback if it meant joining a top-tier project and helping the team rebuild.
“He might say, ‘I’ll give it a year,’ if United bring in strong reinforcements,” Mikel suggested. “But ideally, we want to see him in the Champions League — and maybe that makes Arsenal a better option.”
Mikel also hinted at personal discussions with Osimhen and noted that the striker remains determined to continue his career in one of Europe’s elite leagues.
“He’s working toward joining a top European club where he can prove himself and compete at the Champions League level,” Mikel said.
