Chelsea Ready to Break 10-Year Transfer Tradition with £84.5m Move for Victor OsimhenBy Dandozzy – June 28, 2025Chelsea are prepared to break their long-standing transfer policy by launching a significant £84.5 million bid for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.
The deal is expected to gain momentum following the June 30, 2025, Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) deadline.As reported by football.
london, this move marks a major departure from Chelsea’s usual approach. The club has not signed two senior strikers in the same transfer window since 2014 under Jose Mourinho, when they brought in Didier Drogba, Loic Remy, and Diego Costa.The proposed arrival of 26-year-old Osimhen, alongside Liam Delap—who recently joined from Ipswich Town for £30 million—signals manager Enzo Maresca’s clear intention to revamp Chelsea’s attack for the 2025/26 campaign.
Osimhen is coming off an impressive loan spell at Galatasaray, where he registered 37 goals and eight assists in 41 appearances, including 26 goals in 30 Turkish Super Lig matches. He also played a key role in Napoli’s 2022/23 Serie A title win, scoring 31 goals in 39 games.
His proven scoring record has made him a long-term target for the Blues.Chelsea’s timing appears strategic. By pursuing the deal after the PSR deadline and leveraging funds from Romelu Lukaku’s £38 million sale to Napoli—as well as potential exits for players like Christopher Nkunku and Raheem Sterling—the club is working to remain financially compliant.
The transfer fee, significantly below Osimhen’s £113 million release clause, underscores that effort.Osimhen has expressed a clear preference to move permanently to the Premier League, turning down a lucrative £42.6 million-per-year offer from Saudi club Al-Hilal. Despite interest from Manchester United and Arsenal, Chelsea remain in a strong position.
However, complications remain. Osimhen’s wage demands—reported at £500,000 per week—were a major obstacle in August 2024, when Chelsea only offered £130,000 per week.
While a compromise now seems closer, the club’s cautious PSR approach, as noted by journalist David Ornstein, suggests a structured deal may be required.
A loan with an obligation to buy has been discussed, though Osimhen is reportedly opposed to that model.Reactions among supporters are mixed. Some fans have raised concerns about the financial implications, citing the risk of a massive wage bill. Others welcome the bold move as a necessary step forward.
With Nicolas Jackson suspended and Enzo Fernandez injured, Maresca will face Benfica in the Club World Cup without key players.
Osimhen is seen as a potential game-changer, offering power and precision to complement Delap’s physical presence.Chelsea’s financial position has improved with Champions League qualification and potential earnings of up to £200 million from a deep run in the Club World Cup.
If completed, the Osimhen transfer could dramatically reshape Chelsea’s attack—though his potential absence for up to 10 matches due to the Africa Cup of Nations in December 2025 and January 2026 will be a factor to manage.