Galatasaray Vice-President Abdullah Kavukcu has identified Nigerian sensation Victor Osimhen as a primary catalyst for the club’s burgeoning international profile and commercial expansion. Alongside fellow marquee forwards Leroy Sané and Mauro Icardi, Osimhen has spearheaded a dramatic shift in the Turkish giant’s global appeal. As Nigeria’s premier footballing export, the striker’s presence has triggered an unprecedented surge in engagement from West African fans, who now provide a massive boost to the “Lions’” digital and social media footprint.
Following a prolific loan spell that helped secure a domestic double for the Istanbul-based outfit, Osimhen formalized his stay with a permanent transfer last summer. The deal shattered records, standing as the most expensive acquisition in the history of the Turkish Süper Lig. This investment has yielded immediate returns on the pitch, with the forward registering an impressive 19 goals and seven assists across 29 appearances in all competitions this season. However, his value extends far beyond his scoring record; he has become a cornerstone of the club’s branding strategy and a dominant force in merchandise sales.
During a recent dialogue with the German publication Bild, Kavukcu detailed how the star power of the current squad is laying the groundwork for ambitious business ventures, including a public offering for the club’s retail division and the launch of a dedicated café franchise. The executive emphasized that the visibility brought by these elite athletes is essential to the club’s goal of breaking into the world’s top ten most influential football institutions.
“Leroy is among Galatasaray’s top three jersey sellers (alongside Osimhen and Icardi; ed.),” Kavukcu stated in an interview with the German newspaper Bild.
He further elaborated on the strategic roadmap designed to capitalize on this heightened popularity.
“Our ambition is to rank among the top 10 clubs globally. We are preparing to take our merchandising company public, and we also have intentions for our own café franchise chain,” he added.
“All of this is primarily due to players like Leroy, Mauro Icardi, and Victor Osimhen, who have greatly enhanced our popularity,” Kavukcu remarked.
