Victor Osimhen is known for openly attributing his success to his Christian faith. He frequently mentions his trust in God, for example he said he “put everything in God’s hands” when making big career decisions.
Quick Profile: Victor Osimhen
| Full Name | Victor James Osimhen |
| Birth Date | 29 December 1998 |
| Birth Place | Lagos, Nigeria |
| Height | 1.85 m |
| Current Club | Galatasaray (Turkey) |
| Religion | Christian |
What religion is Victor Osimhen ?
Victor Osimhen is Christian by faith. Sources note he attends church when in Nigeria and often references God publicly. In interviews he describes relying on prayer and gospel music before games. Although he has not publicly declared a specific denomination, his actions (such as participating in church events and supporting Christian charities) underscore that he identifies with the Christian religion. For example, a recent news report showed him at a church service in Lagos at the end of 2023, where he joined a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) event. This highlights that his faith is an active part of his personal life.
Aside from Victor Osimhen, we have other popular players like Jude Bellingham, Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka, who all happened to be a Christian.
Early Life
Victor Osimhen was born in Lagos, Nigeria on December 29, 1998. He was the youngest of six siblings, raised in a large family. His father was from Edo State and his mother from Delta State. Osimhen faced hardship early: his mother died when he was young. To help his family survive, the young Victor sold sachet water and oranges in Lagos traffic. These struggles forged his resilience and hunger for success.
His talent was spotted at a local youth tournament in Lagos. Former Nigerian star Emmanuel Amuneke saw him play and invited him into the Nigeria U-17 national team camp for the 2015 World Cup. At that tournament, Osimhen excelled, he won the Golden Boot as top scorer and helped Nigeria win the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2015. This breakthrough moment set him on the path to a European club career.
Career Highlights
After shining at the U-17 World Cup, Osimhen moved to Europe. He joined German club Wolfsburg in 2017 but struggled there. A loan to Belgian side Charleroi in 2018–19 saw his first success, scoring 20 goals. In 2019 he signed for French club Lille and then moved to Napoli in Italy in 2020.
At Napoli he became a star. He scored consistently in Serie A and helped Napoli win the Italian league title (Serie A) in 2022–23, Napoli’s first Scudetto in over 30 years. That season he was the joint top scorer (Capocannoniere) in Serie A with 26 goals. In 2023 he won the CAF African Footballer of the Year award, the first Nigerian to do so in decades.
In 2024 Osimhen moved to Turkish giants Galatasaray. He immediately made an impact, scoring prolifically. In the 2024–25 season he helped Galatasaray win both the Süper Lig (Turkish league) and the Turkish Cup, finishing as the league’s top scorer. His success in Turkey included numerous goals and even a Goal of the Season award for an acrobatic strike.
Internationally, Osimhen has been a key forward for Nigeria. He helped Nigeria reach the Africa Cup of Nations final in 2023 (they finished runner-up) and also was part of the team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He continues to be a star striker for the Super Eagles.
Personal Life
Off the field, Osimhen keeps his private life relatively quiet. He is in a long-term relationship with German model Stefanie “Stefanie Kim” Ladewig, and they have a daughter (born October 2022) named Haly. Osimhen often returns to Nigeria in the off-season and remains close to his family. As a person of faith, he attends church and engages in community charity. For example, in June 2024 he pledged a large donation (₦50 million) to the Attom Foundation, a Nigerian charity focused on eye surgery for the elderly. He sees giving back as part of his Christian values.
Osimhen also draws inspiration from other footballers’ charity work. He has mentioned players like Sadio Mané, who help disabled people and communities, as role models. This reflects his own desire to use his resources to help others. In recognition of his impact, the Nigerian government honored him, in 2023 he was made a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR), one of the country’s highest honors.
Endorsements and Earnings
Osimhen’s on-field success has led to lucrative contracts and sponsorships. He had a long-term sponsorship deal with Nike, and in 2024 he switched to Adidas footwear. His transfer to Galatasaray involved a €75 million release clause being triggered, making it one of the most expensive deals for an African player. Reportedly, Galatasaray offered him a salary around €15 million per year to secure his long-term contract.
He also appears in various advertising campaigns. In addition to apparel brands (Nike/Adidas), he featured on the cover of the official African edition of the FIFA video game in 2022, enhancing his global profile. While exact earnings are private, Osimhen is among Nigeria’s highest-paid athletes, and his endorsements supplement his club salary.
Trivia
- As a child in Lagos, Osimhen sold sachet water and fruit on the streets to support his family after his mother’s death.
- He famously turned down interest from Manchester United and other big clubs to join Wolfsburg in Germany in 2016, believing it offered better development.
- Growing up he idolized Ivorian star Didier Drogba and modeled his game on him.
