Victor Osimhen Biography, Wife, Wiki, Awards, Career And Net Worth in 2024
Victor Osimhen is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club Napoli and the Nigeria national team. As of 2024, Osimhen is considered one of the most promising young talents in world football and has quickly developed into one of Serie A’s most prolific goalscorers.
Victor Osimhen’s Biography and Net Worth in 2024
- Full Name: Victor James Osimhen
- Date of Birth: 29 December 1998
- Place of Birth: Lagos, Nigeria
- Height: 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
- Playing Position: Striker
- Current club: Napoli (2020-present)
- Previous clubs: Ultimate Strikers (youth), Wolfsburg (2017-2018), Charleroi (2018-2019), Lille (2019-2020)
- International Caps: Nigeria (2017-present) – 35 caps, 18 goals
- International Tournaments: 2018 World Cup, 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (top scorer), 2019 FIFA U-23 World Cup
- Individual Honors: Belgian Pro League Rookie of the Season 2018–19, Ligue 1 Player of the Month August 2019
- Transfer Fees: Wolfsburg to Charleroi – €3.5 million, Charleroi to Lille – €14 million, Lille to Napoli – €80 million
- Current Contract: Napoli, until 2026 worth €5 million per year
- Estimated Market Value: €100 million (~$110 million) as of February 2024
- Estimated Net Worth: $15 million as of 2024
Victor Osimhen Early Life and Career Beginnings
Victor James Osimhen was born on 29 December 1998 in Lagos, Nigeria. He grew up in difficult circumstances in the Olusosun suburb of Lagos and lost his mother at a young age. Football became Osimhen’s escape and he began playing organized football for local side Ultimate Strikers.
In 2015, Osimhen’s performances for Nigeria at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup caught the eye of scouts across Europe. He soon signed for German club VfL Wolfsburg and made his professional debut in 2017 aged just 18. However, Osimhen struggled for game time at Wolfsburg and had a brief loan spell at Belgian side Charleroi during the 2017-18 season.
Victor Osimhen Breakthrough at Charleroi
Following his loan spell, Charleroi decided to sign Osimhen on a permanent deal in 2018. This proved to be the breakout moment in Osimhen’s career. During the 2018-19 season, he scored 20 goals in 36 games for Charleroi, helping them achieve a Europa League spot.
His speed, athleticism, and eye for goal quickly made him one of the most feared strikers in the Belgian top flight. Osimhen was named the Belgian Pro League Rookie of the Season for 2018-19.
Victor Osimhen Move to Lille
After just one prolific season at Charleroi, French club Lille swooped in to sign Osimhen for €14 million in the summer of 2019. This was a club-record fee for Lille but it proved to be an inspired signing.
In his debut season at Lille, Osimhen scored 18 goals in 38 games across all competitions as Lille finished 4th in Ligue 1. He formed a lethal partnership with Canadian forward Jonathan David as Lille qualified for the Champions League.
Osimhen was named the Ligue 1 Player of the Month in August 2019 and went on to make his senior international debut for Nigeria that same month. Already a star in Belgium, Osimhen’s stock rose higher with his eye-catching performances for Lille.
Napoli Signed Victor Osimhen
After just one season with Lille, Osimhen attracted interest from clubs across Europe’s top leagues. Both Liverpool and Tottenham were rumored to be interested in signing the Nigerian striker. However, it was Napoli who secured a deal for around €80 million in the summer of 2020.
This transfer fee made Osimhen Napoli’s record signing and one of the most expensive African football transfers of all time. It was a massive statement of intent from Napoli and demonstrated their belief in Osimhen’s ability.
The pressure was on the young Nigerian to deliver in Serie A. But Osimhen settled into life in Naples quickly, scoring 10 goals in his debut season despite missing two months due to injury and COVID-19.
Osimhen’s Rise to Stardom at Napoli
Osimhen entered the 2021-22 season with sky-high expectations at Napoli. He delivered in emphatic fashion, scoring 18 goals to fire Napoli to a third-place finish in Serie A. His pace, power, and work rate made him a defender’s nightmare.
Playing under manager Luciano Spalletti, Osimhen developed into one of the most feared strikers in Italy. He formed an almost telepathic relationship with Lorenzo Insigne, Napoli’s captain and star playmaker.
As of February 2024, Osimhen is enjoying the best season of his career so far at Napoli. He already has 19 goals in just 21 Serie A games and has overtaken Kylian Mbappe as the top scorer across Europe’s top five leagues.
Still only 25 years old, Osimhen is set to get even better in the coming years. With Champions League knockout stage football coming up, he will soon get the chance to showcase his talents on the biggest stage.
International Career with Nigeria
Alongside his club career, Osimhen has also been a regular in the Nigerian national team. He made his debut for the Super Eagles in 2017 and played at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, scoring a goal against Iceland.
Victor Osimhen then took over as Nigeria’s leading striker and talisman, finishing as top scorer at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. He also led Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2019 FIFA U-23 World Cup.
As of February 2024, Osimhen has scored 18 goals in 35 caps for Nigeria. He will be expected to be Nigeria’s star man at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations as they aim for continental glory. Osimhen looks set to break the Nigerian national team scoring record before too long.
Victor Osimhen Net Worth
Given his young age and massive market value as one of football’s top strikers, Osimhen has an estimated net worth of around $15 million as of 2024. However, this net worth is expected to skyrocket in the coming years.
With his current contract at Napoli running until 2026, Osimhen earns an estimated $5 million per year in wages. His market value is estimated to be around $110 million – a $30 million increase from his transfer to Napoli in 2020.
ALSO READ:Victor Boniface Biography, Net Worth, Age, Tribe, Wiki, Girlfriend And Awards
As Osimhen enters his prime playing years and continues putting up huge goalscoring numbers, his income will steadily rise. Lucrative sponsorship deals, bonuses, and eventually a big-money transfer to one of Europe’s elite clubs could potentially push Osimhen’s net worth towards $50 million in the next 5 years.
At just 25, the ceiling appears limitless for Victor Osimhen. With his combination of talent and work ethic, he has all the tools to become one of Africa’s richest football stars. As he enters his peak at Napoli, the next few years will be crucial in determining just how massive Osimhen’s net worth could become.
Summary
Victor Osimhen has gone from poverty-stricken beginnings in Lagos to becoming one of the hottest properties in world football. After initially struggling in Germany, he had a breakout season at Charleroi before moving to Lille and starring in Ligue 1.
Since joining Napoli for a club-record fee in 2020, Osimhen has developed into arguably the most feared striker in Serie A. He is now achieving superstar status aged just 25 and has become a vital player for Nigeria.
With his value skyrocketing and huge earning potential from wages, bonuses, and endorsements, Osimhen has an estimated net worth of $15 million that could rise to $50 million in the next five years. As he enters his prime, the future looks incredibly bright for Victor Osimhen.