Former Super Eagles Captain, Mikel Obi has refuted claims that Victor Osimhen’s wage demands were the reason his potential transfer to Chelsea fell through.
Chelsea made a late push to sign the Super Eagles forward during the final hours of the summer transfer window, but the deal couldn’t be finalized in time.
Reports suggested that Napoli had accepted an €80 million ($88.5 million) offer from Saudi Pro League club Al Ahli on deadline day, but Osimhen was hesitant about leaving European football.
Mikel, who was involved in the negotiations, revealed that the transfer was very close to completion, and Osimhen was disappointed when it didn’t materialize.
“I know what Victor wanted, I know what the club offered him, and I know how close we were to reaching an agreement. Both sides had to make compromises, and we were down to just a few final details—paperwork, medicals, and other minor issues—but we simply ran out of time,” Mikel explained on The Obi One Podcast.
“Both sides really played their part in terms of getting the deal done, and I commend Chelsea for that because I can see their ambition of where they want to take this club now and also on Victor’s side, how much he really wanted to come to the club.
“He was disappointed it didn’t happen. I spoke to him when the transfer window shut. I gave him a call. We spent 20 minutes talking, I said, ‘Listen, I’m always here for you. You need to keep your head down. You need to keep working hard. Keep training. I know it’s not the best situation right now, but I know you’re strong.’
“You know, Victor’s a strong character; he’s a bit like Didier Drogba and Diego Costa, and that’s something we’re missing at the club—strikers who have that edge, who have that bite who can intimidate defenders, and Victor definitely has that.”
Mikel also dismissed any reports of issues between Osimhen and Chelsea over the failed transfer, making it clear that the breakdown was due to timing and not financial demands.
“Definitely, there are no issues. I think if we have to pick this back up again like I said, whenever it is, January or next summer, we know where we are, we know where we’ve stopped, and it’s just little details that need to be finalised and the deal will be done.
So for me, the club is in a very happy place with Victor, and Victor is in a very happy place with the club.
“I want to make sure; I’m not going to rest; I want to make sure I get him to the club because I know, not because he’s my friend, or he’s like my younger brother, or he’s Nigerian; no, he is one of the best strikers in the world right now; he’s Africa’s best player; I know what he can bring to the club, and I’m sure a lot of Chelsea fans know what Victor can bring to the club.”
