Victor Osimhen has become the most expensive African player ever
Victor Osimhen has become the most expensive African player ever

Victor Osimhen: Nigeria striker joins Napoli from Lille in £73.2m African record


Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen has joined Napoli from Lille in a deal reported to be worth an African record €81.3m (£73.2m)

It beats the £72m Arsenal paid the same French club for Nicolas Pepe last summer.

During lockdown, he was highlighted on Sporting Life as a potential signing for both Manchester United and Tottenham.

The 21-year-old, who scored 13 and assisted five goals in Ligue 1 this term, only joined Lille from Belgian side Charleroi following Pepe's move to north London a year ago.

But Osimhen's performances in his debut campaign were enough to see him named in the French top flight's team of the season, and have now earned him a big money move to Serie A.

Having started his professional career with Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg, for whom he failed to score a single league goal, the Nigerian will have played in three of Europe's five major leagues before his 22nd birthday.


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