Napoli has officially handed the coveted No. 9 shirt to Romelu Lukaku, following the collapse of Victor Osimhen’s anticipated move to either Chelsea or Al Ahli.
The transfer drama, which played out until the final moments of the summer window, left the 25-year-old Nigerian striker unexpectedly staying with the Italian club.
Osimhen was widely expected to make a big move on deadline day, with both Chelsea and Al Ahli in serious contention.
However, negotiations failed to materialize into a concrete deal.
Delegates from Chelsea were reportedly in Naples until the closing moments of the transfer window on Friday, but talks ultimately broke down.
The Blues proposed a loan deal with an obligation to buy, but personal terms could not be agreed upon with Osimhen.
Simultaneously, Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli had reached an agreement with Napoli earlier on Friday, with a bid worth £67 million reportedly accepted by the Italian club.
Al Ahli had also offered Osimhen a lucrative four-year contract package, totaling £135 million in wages and bonuses.
Despite this, the deal fell apart as Al Ahli opted to sign Ivan Toney from Brentford for £40 million instead.
Chelsea, on the other hand, chose not to match the substantial financial terms proposed by the Saudi club, partly due to concerns over Profit and Sustainability regulations.
This cautious approach ultimately saw the London club back out of the deal.
With no transfer materializing, Osimhen remains with Napoli, although reports suggest his relationship with the club has soured.
The situation took a further twist as Osimhen was noticeably absent from Napoli’s official website, with Lukaku now listed as the club’s No. 9.
The Belgian forward, Lukaku, who joined Napoli recently, has taken up the shirt number previously associated with Osimhen, signaling a potential shift in the club’s focus moving forward.
