For many football fans, the off-season is eagerly anticipated because it signals one thing: transfer season. While the 2024 summer window may not have been the most eventful in recent memory, several prominent players made significant moves in the past three months.

**Napoli:** A Disappointing Outcome. Club president Aurelio De Laurentiis acknowledged back in January that Napoli had been aware since last summer that Victor Osimhen would likely depart, giving the club ample time to secure a substantial fee for their star forward. However, the saga culminated in Osimhen joining Galatasaray on loan on September 3, a move that hampered Napoli’s recruitment efforts for over a month. Napoli was reportedly responsible for the breakdown of a last-minute €80m (£67m/$88m) transfer to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli.

Though Osimhen may still attract interest from other clubs in the future, Napoli was able to structure the deal with an option to extend his contract until 2027, which should help maintain his market value.

However, despite Osimhen’s status as one of the top strikers in the world, it now seems unlikely that Napoli will recoup the €70m (£59m/$77m) they paid Lille for him in 2020. Grade: F

**Galatasaray:** An Unexpected Acquisition. There are some complexities involved, as this is a short-term loan with no obligation or option to buy next summer. Moreover, Osimhen has a clause allowing him to leave in the January transfer window if approached by one of 10 specific clubs, which means he may not complete a full season in Turkey. Nevertheless, securing even six months of Osimhen’s services is an extraordinary achievement for Galatasaray. The club is particularly pleased to have completed the deal in time to include him in their Europa League squad. Given how surprising this transfer was, it’s no shock that Galatasaray fans have been celebrating the arrival of such a world-class player. Grade: A

*Victor Osimhen: A Setback. This summer was supposed to be the moment Osimhen moved to one of Europe’s elite clubs. Even De Laurentiis had hinted at potential transfers to Real Madrid, PSG, or a top Premier League team. Instead, Osimhen has found himself at a club that was recently eliminated from the Champions League by Young Boys. Although Galatasaray is a storied club with passionate supporters, this move represents a significant step down for Osimhen, who deserves to be competing at the highest level. While his agent may have mishandled negotiations, Osimhen also bears some responsibility. Had he been willing to lower his wage demands, he could now be looking forward to Champions League football instead of the Europa League. Grade: F