Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen is reportedly set to wear Galatasaray’s No. 9 shirt from the 2026/27 season following Mauro Icardi’s departure.
Osimhen has worn No. 45 since arriving in Istanbul because the traditional striker’s number belonged to Icardi.
Turkish journalist Ali Naci Küçük said Galatasaray deliberately waited until Icardi’s exit before offering the shirt to Osimhen as a mark of respect for the Argentine’s achievements at the club.
Icardi left Galatasaray as a free agent after his contract expired, ending a successful four-year association with the Turkish champions. His departure was confirmed in July, making the No. 9 shirt available
However, Galatasaray have yet to announce Osimhen’s new number formally. At the time of reporting, the club’s official squad page still listed the Nigerian with No. 45.
More than a routine shirt change
Giving Osimhen the No. 9 shirt would underline his position as the central figure in Galatasaray’s attack and signal the beginning of a new era following Icardi’s departure.
Osimhen initially joined Galatasaray on loan from Napoli in 2024 before completing a permanent €75 million transfer in July 2025—the most expensive signing in Turkish football history.
The Nigerian scored 37 goals and registered eight assists in 41 appearances during his loan season, helping Galatasaray win the Turkish league title. Reuters
His performances quickly transformed the No. 45 shirt into a popular symbol among supporters, but No. 9 remains the number traditionally associated with a team’s leading goalscorer.
Icardi also began his Galatasaray career wearing No. 99 before eventually taking No. 9. Osimhen now appears ready to follow a similar path as the club reshapes its identity around the Nigerian striker.
If formally confirmed, the change will represent more than a new number for Osimhen. It will be a clear declaration that Galatasaray now consider him the undisputed leader of their attack.
