Napoli Assigns No. 9 Shirt to Romelu Lukaku as Osimhen’s Transfers to Chelsea and Al Ahli Fall Through.
In a dramatic twist on transfer deadline day, Napoli has handed the coveted No. 9 shirt to Romelu Lukaku following the collapse of Victor Osimhen’s potential moves to both Chelsea and Al Ahli. The Serie A club had been bracing for Osimhen’s departure, but neither deal materialised.
Chelsea’s loan-to-buy offer was derailed due to disagreements over personal terms with the Nigerian forward, while Al Ahli’s £67 million bid, which was initially accepted, fell through as the Saudi club opted to sign Ivan Toney instead. Despite remaining at Napoli, Osimhen’s future with the club remains uncertain as he is no longer listed on their official website.
This development marks a significant shift in Napoli’s forward line, with Lukaku set to spearhead the attack in the upcoming season. The Belgian striker, who recently joined from Chelsea, now steps into a role previously occupied by Osimhen, whose future will likely continue to be a subject of speculation.
