Osimhen keeps his iconic 45 at Galatasaray, turning down the No. 9

Victor Osimhen has declined Galatasaray’s offer to switch to the traditional No. 9 shirt, choosing instead to continue wearing his familiar 45. Since arriving in Istanbul after winning Serie A with Napoli, the Nigerian forward has scored 59 goals in 74 appearances and added two Turkish league titles and a domestic cup, becoming one of Europe’s most dominant strikers. Yet his attachment to 45 runs deeper than statistics. Osimhen first wore the number at Charleroi during the 2018/19 season, a period that launched his rise in European football and attracted major clubs.

With Mauro Icardi’s departure leaving the No. 9 vacant, Galatasaray proposed the switch, but Osimhen politely declined, reportedly telling the club he preferred to keep the number that brought him luck. His decision reflects a personal identity shaped by career milestones and superstition, reinforcing how modern players use shirt numbers to preserve meaningful chapters of their journey.