Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen has been ranked ninth in ESPN’s latest list of the world’s best strikers, highlighting the Nigerian’s sustained impact for both Galatasaray and the national team in recent seasons.
Osimhen remains one of the most highly rated forwards in European football and is widely regarded as the leading striker in the Turkish Super Lig. His performances have been central to Galatasaray’s domestic dominance, having helped the club secure consecutive league titles since his arrival.
The Nigerian enjoyed an outstanding debut campaign in Turkey, winning the Super Lig Golden Boot after establishing himself as Galatasaray’s primary attacking threat. His second season was less prolific in the league, however, as injuries and international commitments restricted him to just 19 starts. He finished the campaign with 15 league goals.
Despite the reduced number of appearances, Osimhen’s performances continued to attract attention from some of Europe’s biggest clubs. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Arsenal and Manchester United have all been linked with the striker at various points, although none of the reported interest has resulted in a completed transfer.
ESPN’s ranking places Osimhen ahead of Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike, while Chelsea’s Joao Pedro occupies seventh position, two places above the Nigerian. Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane tops the ranking, followed by Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.
A major factor behind Osimhen’s high ranking is his remarkable consistency in creating shooting opportunities. ESPN noted that the Nigerian has averaged at least four shots per 90 minutes in each of the past five seasons, underlining his ability to consistently threaten opposition defences.
His impact was particularly evident in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League campaign, where he scored seven goals — his highest tally in a single Champions League season. Osimhen also played a key role as Galatasaray secured notable victories over Liverpool and Juventus.
Those performances, according to ESPN, demonstrate that his prolific scoring record in Turkey is capable of translating to the highest level of European competition. His combination of pace, physical strength, movement and ability to find shooting positions continues to make him a difficult proposition for defenders.
Meanwhile, former Tottenham and Belgium defender Toby Alderweireld has called on Spurs to move ahead of Arsenal and other Premier League contenders in the race for Osimhen’s signature.
Alderweireld believes the Nigerian could provide the goals Tottenham lacked last season and would represent a significant addition to their attack.
“Spurs could use a striker like Victor Osimhen; they need his goals because it’s what they lacked last season as well,” Alderweireld said in an interview with Hajper.
He acknowledged that Osimhen’s age could influence the thinking of clubs such as Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United, with many of Europe’s biggest teams increasingly prioritising younger forwards who can become long-term assets.
“The only concern for clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United is maybe his age. He’s not the youngest player anymore, and it seems like everyone wants to find a 23-year-old superstar who can bang in goals for the next seven or eight years, and I understand that, but you also need a good mix,” Alderweireld added.
Tottenham have already made significant investments in their squad this summer, reportedly breaking their transfer record twice with the acquisitions of Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali for a combined £185m.
The North London club have also added Jan Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senesi, Andy Robertson and Martin Dubravka but are still searching for an established goalscorer to strengthen their attack.
With Osimhen continuing to command attention across Europe, his ninth-place ranking further underlines his status among the continent’s elite strikers and could intensify speculation over his future as leading clubs assess their attacking options.
