Osimhen Reportedly Agrees €350,000-Per-Week Deal to Join Chelsea

Prolific Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen has reportedly agreed to a lucrative weekly wage of €350,000 with Chelsea, according to multiple sources.

This development marks a pivotal milestone in what has been a protracted transfer saga involving the Nigerian forward.

Initially, Osimhen demanded a staggering €500,000 per week, but Chelsea managed to negotiate the figure down to €350,000. Despite this reduction, the deal still represents a substantial increase from his current earnings at Napoli, where he was making €246,538 per week following a contract extension last December.

The negotiations have been complex, with Chelsea facing stiff competition from Saudi Arabian clubs, particularly Al Ahli, who have tabled competitive offers.

Al Ahli's bid included a salary offer of £400,000 per week, which far exceeds Chelsea's proposal. However, Osimhen's preference to remain in Europe has kept Chelsea in the race.

Fabrizio Romano, a well-known transfer expert, confirmed that "Chelsea are in active talks with Osimhen on salary," and noted that an Al Ahli delegation had arrived in Italy for direct discussions with the player's camp.

Romano added, "Contract on table with release clause, as Osimhen wanted. Chelsea in active talks with Osimhen on salary. Al Ahli deal only happen if #CFC talks collapse."

BBC's Nizaar Kinsella also provided insights into the financial aspects of the deal, suggesting that "club-to-club fee unlikely to be an issue," indicating a positive shift in discussions that could see Osimhen donning the blue jersey sooner rather than later.

Napoli had initially set a high asking price, holding out for Osimhen's £111 million release clause. However, they have since accepted a €70 million offer from Al Ahli, and Chelsea are prepared to match this amount to secure the striker's services.

Chelsea's new manager, Enzo Maresca, has given his approval for the signing, seeking to add more competition for Nicolas Jackson. The Blues are willing to make Osimhen their highest earner, offering him a significant £325,000 per week deal, despite their recent policy of offering longer, heavily incentivized contracts with lower starting salaries.

Osimhen's impressive track record includes firing Napoli to the Serie A title in the 2022/23 season with 26 league goals in 32 appearances and scoring 15 goals in 25 games last term. His potential move to Chelsea is seen as a strategic acquisition to bolster the club's attacking options ahead of the new season.