Victor Osimhen’s market value remains elite despite his fall from first to fifth, with the Galatasaray striker enjoying a blistering start to the new season

Victor Osimhen, the Super Eagles and Galatasaray striker, has dropped to fifth in Africa’s most valuable footballers ranking at €75m, according to the latest Transfermarkt figures, despite opening the 2026/27 season with four goals and an assist in two Turkish Super Lig matches.

Also read: Osimhen earns top-10 striker ranking boost

The 27-year-old Nigerian once occupied the summit of the continental ranking in 2023, before falling to second in 2025 and third ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

His latest position reflects a changing market rather than a sharp decline in his standing as one of Africa’s leading forwards.

Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande now leads the African ranking at €90m, while Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi, Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo and Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi are each valued at €80m. Bryan Mbeumo, also valued at €75m, shares sixth place with Osimhen.

The change comes at an intriguing moment in Osimhen’s career because his performances on the pitch remain compelling.

Osimhen scored twice in Galatasaray’s 2-2 draw with Çorum FK in the opening league fixture before producing another brace and an assist in the champions’ 4-0 victory over Erzurumspor on August 21. (beIN SPORTS)

That gives him four goals and one assist from 180 minutes of league football this season, an explosive start that has once again underlined his importance to the Turkish champions. (FotMob)

His latest ranking therefore offers an interesting contrast: Osimhen’s market value has slipped down the continental table while his immediate form has remained exceptionally strong.

The Nigerian is also closing in on another notable Galatasaray milestone.

His two goals against Erzurumspor took his club tally to 62 goals in 76 appearances, moving him above former Czech striker Milan Baros among the club’s foreign scorers.

Only Mauro Icardi and Gheorghe Hagi are ahead of him on the foreign-player list. (Pan Africa Football)

Osimhen’s performances have also kept transfer speculation alive.

Arsenal remain among the clubs linked with the striker, while interest from the Saudi Pro League has also surrounded his future.

No move had materialised as of August 26, however, leaving Osimhen at Galatasaray as the summer transfer window approaches its conclusion.

On the global scale, the Nigerian remains firmly among football’s elite forwards.

Transfermarkt places him 20th among the world’s most valuable forwards, while his €75m valuation makes him the eighth most valuable centre-forward. Erling Haaland leads the striker category at €220m, followed by Kylian Mbappé at €200m and Julián Alvarez at €120m.

Alexander Isak and Lautaro Martínez are both valued at €85m, while Hugo Ekitike and João Pedro sit at €80m. Osimhen’s €75m valuation places him immediately behind that group.

He nevertheless remains Nigeria’s most valuable footballer and the most valuable player in the Turkish Super Lig.

His commercial and sporting value has been reinforced by an impressive transfer history. Osimhen’s move from Lille to Napoli was reported at around $91m, while his subsequent permanent switch from Napoli to Galatasaray was reported at about $87m.

Those figures have helped establish him among Africa’s most expensive footballers, while his goalscoring record has sustained his reputation as one of the continent’s premier attacking talents.

Osimhen’s rise has also coincided with the emergence of other Nigerian stars on the continental stage.

Ademola Lookman, the Atletico Madrid winger, is currently valued at €35m and remains an important figure for the Super Eagles after his influential displays at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where Nigeria finished third.

For Osimhen, however, the immediate challenge is not the ranking but maintaining the remarkable scoring rhythm that has followed him into another season.

Galatasaray are scheduled to face Göztepe on Saturday, August 29, giving the Nigerian another opportunity to strengthen his already impressive start and perhaps begin closing the gap between his current valuation and the players now ahead of him. (FotMob)

Also read: Arsenal receive boost In £60m Osimhen chase

The fall to fifth may look like a setback on paper, but Osimhen’s recent performances suggest his most convincing response will continue to come where it has always mattered most: on the pitch.