Osimhen transfer turns sour as Napoli, Lille executives face legal heat

Italian prosecutors have reopened investigations into the controversial transfer of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen from French club Lille to Napoli in 2020 over alleged false accounting and inflated player valuations.

The probe, led by prosecutors Lorenzo Del Giudice and Giorgio Ornano, is centered on suspicions that officials from both clubs manipulated the financial details of the €70 million transfer deal. Reports from La Repubblica, as cited by Football Italia, revealed that the prosecutors have asked the Rome Tribunal to put Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis and chief executive Andrea Chiavelli on trial for suspected financial misconduct.

The transfer, completed in July 2020, remains one of the most expensive deals involving an African player. Napoli agreed to pay €50 million in cash and an additional €20 million through the exchange of four players Orestis Karnezis, Luigi Liguori, Claudio Manzi, and Ciro Palmieri. Investigators now believe that the valuations of those additional players were deliberately exaggerated to make the books of both clubs appear balanced and compliant with financial fair play rules.

Documents, emails, and WhatsApp messages obtained during the investigation reportedly show that executives at both Napoli and Lille were aware of the irregularities. In one internal message, Napoli general manager Andrea Chiavelli told then-sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli, “He told me to send it, but hopefully they won’t accept, otherwise we’ll have to resort to robbery.” Another exchange revealed that officials were warned not to leave any written evidence, with assistant sporting director Giuseppe Pompilio allegedly advising, “You mustn’t write anything. Don’t leave traces in the emails. Say what you like in person.”

At Lille, similar unease was documented. Then-general manager Julien Mordacq allegedly warned chief executive Marc Ingla that the structure of the deal could raise serious questions. Former Lille president Gérard Lopez reportedly wrote that manipulating the valuations would make the transfer appear legitimate while keeping the real price lower.

In one email, Lopez urged secrecy, cautioning colleagues that revealing the deal’s true value would “defeat the purpose” and “make everyone look bad.”

The investigation focuses on whether both clubs engaged in false accounting to distort their financial statements between 2019 and 2021. Though Napoli face no sporting sanctions, the criminal case remains active as prosecutors seek to determine if sufficient grounds exist for a full trial.

Earlier, the Italian Football Federation’s prosecutor, Giuseppe Chiné, had cleared Napoli in a separate sporting inquiry, ruling out any points deduction or competitive punishment.

The Osimhen transfer was crucial for both clubs. For Lille, it provided much-needed financial relief during a difficult economic period, while for Napoli, it marked the arrival of a player who would go on to deliver their first Serie A title in 33 years.

Osimhen’s performances established him as one of the best strikers in the world, and his later move to Galatasaray in 2024 further solidified his global reputation.

Legal experts say the case could reshape how football transfers are assessed under European law, especially when it comes to valuing player exchanges. If found guilty, Napoli officials could face heavy penalties, and European regulators may impose stricter rules on future deals.

While Osimhen himself is not implicated, his transfer continues to generate debate not for his achievements on the field, but for the financial controversy that has refused to fade away.