From Villain to Savior: Osimhen’s Stunning U-Turn to Liverpool
Istanbul/Liverpool, October 2, 2025 – In a jaw-dropping twist that’s flipped Anfield from despair to delirium, Victor Osimhen – the Galatasaray striker who buried Liverpool’s Champions League hopes just 24 hours earlier – has confirmed he’s set to join the Reds in January.
The Nigerian’s ice-cold 16th-minute penalty at RAMS Park not only delivered Galatasaray a 1-0 win but also triggered Arne Slot’s sacking. Yet in the aftermath, Osimhen stunned fans with a revelation live on TRT Spor: Liverpool, the very team he dismantled, had reignited his belief.
“Facing them, I felt something,” he admitted, Superman cape draped over the studio chair. “They’re not perfect – far from it. But the fight, the chaos, the hunger… I want to be part of that. I told my agent: make Liverpool happen in January.”
From Critic to Convert
Only months ago, Osimhen slammed Liverpool’s €79m striker Hugo Ekitike as “selfish” and branded Virgil van Dijk “predictable” – barbs that scuppered a €120m Napoli-to-Anfield deal. But Tuesday’s bruising duel flipped the narrative. Osimhen bullied Ibrahima Konaté, baited Van Dijk into Szoboszlai’s penalty concession, and walked off convinced Liverpool’s “raw edge” was the perfect fit.
Sources say Galatasaray’s €75m buy-option (part of his Napoli loan) becomes active after the group stage, but Liverpool are preparing a €90m package to fast-track his move.
Liverpool’s Gamble
The news blindsided interim boss Sipke Hulshoff, mid-press conference when word broke. “If true, it’s poetic,” he admitted. Behind the scenes, FSG owner John W. Henry had already given the green light, seeing Osimhen as the antidote to Liverpool’s misfiring £204m strike force of Ekitike and Alexander Isak.
Osimhen’s record speaks for itself: 23 goals in 29 games for Galatasaray since July. Yet for the 26-year-old, the Premier League has always been the ultimate proving ground. “Arsenal and Chelsea called, but Liverpool’s pull? Now it’s magnetic,” he confessed.
Shockwaves and Reactions
Across Merseyside, the reaction was volcanic. #OsimhenToLFC hit half a million interactions overnight, with fan edits racking up millions of views. “From hater to hero!” screamed one viral TikTok.
Pundits joined the frenzy. Jamie Carragher declared on Sky Sports: “Osimhen fixes Liverpool’s front line. Next to Salah, he’s a selfless beast. That’s title-winning.”
Yet hurdles remain: a projected €12m salary and FFP constraints could complicate negotiations, and Liverpool’s weekend clash with Manchester City looms as a crucial test for both Hulshoff and the squad.
Full Circle
For Osimhen, the move is symbolic – a redemption arc written in real time. “Fans going crazy? Good. That’s the energy I want,” he grinned.
As Galatasaray prepare to lose their talisman and Istanbul’s skyline flares with farewell tributes, Merseyside dreams are just beginning. Yesterday’s tormentor could soon be Anfield’s.
