Osimhen leads attack as Galatasaray unveil UCL squad

Turkish champions Galatasaray have submitted their squad for the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League, with Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen and new signing Rafael Leão included in a star-studded list featuring several high-profile names. UEFA confirmed that all 36 clubs participating in the league phase had submitted their squads ahead of the competition, which begins on September 8. Galatasaray’s official list includes Osimhen, Leão, Leroy Sané, İlkay Gündoğan, Lucas Torreira and Davinson Sánchez among the club’s senior players.

The inclusion of the attacking duo of Osimhen and Leão is expected to heighten expectations around Galatasaray’s campaign as the Turkish champions prepare to compete against Europe’s elite. Osimhen remains one of the biggest names in Galatasaray’s squad and will be central to the club’s attacking ambitions in the Champions League.

The Nigeria international is listed among the forwards alongside Leão, Sané, Yunus Akgün, Deniz Gül and Barış Alper Yılmaz. Osimhen’s presence gives Galatasaray a proven goalscoring threat at the highest level of European club football, while his physical strength, pace and movement provide the Turkish side with a different dimension in attack. His inclusion will also attract significant attention from Nigerian football supporters, particularly as the striker continues to establish himself as one of the most prominent African forwards playing in Europe.

Portuguese winger Rafael Leão is another major addition to Galatasaray’s Champions League squad following his high-profile move from AC Milan. Galatasaray officially confirmed that it reached an agreement with Milan for the transfer, with the Turkish club paying a fixed €38 million fee and agreeing to give Milan 20 per cent of any profit from a future sale. Leão signed a four-year contract beginning from the 2026/27 season and will earn a guaranteed net salary of €10 million per season, according to the club’s official disclosure.

German international Leroy Sané has also been included in the squad, giving manager Okan Buruk another experienced option capable of playing in wide attacking positions. Former Manchester City captain İlkay Gündoğan is included alongside Lucas Torreira, Mario Lemina, Gabriel Sara, Lesley Ugochukwu, Aleksei Batrakov and Renato Sam-Na Nhaga. The presence of Osimhen, Leão, Sané and Gündoğan has transformed Galatasaray into one of the more closely watched teams ahead of the new Champions League campaign.