Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen could make his comeback from a fractured forearm in time for one of Turkish football’s fiercest rivalries, with Galatasaray targeting the Istanbul derby against Fenerbahce on April 26 as his earliest possible return date.
Osimhen suffered the injury during Galatasaray’s UEFA Champions League (UCL) Round of 16 second leg at Anfield on March 18, fracturing his right forearm in an aerial collision with Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate. Despite the injury, the 27-year-old attempted to play on with a strapped arm before being substituted at halftime. Galatasaray lost the match 4-0 and exited the competition 4-1 on aggregate.
Galatasaray confirmed on Monday, March 23, that Osimhen underwent surgery at Maslak Acıbadem Hospital in Istanbul, with the procedure handled by club doctor Op. Dr. Yener İnce after initial scans confirmed the severity of the fracture. The club described the operation as successful and extended wishes for a speedy recovery.
If his recovery proceeds as planned, Osimhen will wear a forearm protective splint on his return. The device is designed to immobilize the forearm and wrist to support the bone during the healing process, reducing pain and preventing further damage by restricting unnecessary movement. Galatasaray will need to craft a custom design that ensures maximum safety without hindering his performance levels.
Osimhen himself told a Twitch livestream that the injury would sideline him for a maximum of six weeks, adding that he was no stranger to serious setbacks, referencing the 18 screws still in his face from his 2021 cheekbone surgery. “This injury is just a minor thing compared to what I’ve been through,” he said.
Galatasaray president Dursun Özbek echoed that optimism, saying the striker was doing very well and that the club hoped he could return to play as soon as possible.
This season, Osimhen has contributed 19 goals and seven assists across 29 appearances in all competitions as Galatasaray hold a four-point lead in the Süper Lig. He also recorded seven goals and three assists in 10 UCL matches before the club’s elimination by Liverpool.
