Noa Lang is expected to return to Napoli after Galatasaray declined their €30m option, leaving the Italian club searching for a new solution for the Dutch winger.
Napoli are preparing for the return of Noa Lang this summer after reports confirmed that Galatasaray will not activate their option to make his loan move permanent.
The Dutch winger joined Napoli from PSV Eindhoven last summer in a deal worth €25 million plus bonuses, with the Italian club also retaining a 10 percent sell-on clause for any future transfer. However, Lang’s time in Serie A failed to take off as expected. He managed just one goal and two assists across 27 appearances in all competitions, with only nine of those coming as a starter.
Struggles to adapt to the tactical demands of Italian football played a part in his underwhelming spell, but his relationship with head coach Antonio Conte also deteriorated significantly. The winger was openly critical of the manager in the media before his January loan move.
Napoli had hoped that Galatasaray would provide a long-term solution by triggering the €30 million purchase option included in the loan agreement, especially after paying €2 million for the six-month deal.
🚨 Galatasaray are currently not expected to proceed with Noa Lang on permanent deal.
€30m buy option clause, not expected to be triggered.
📲🇮🇹 Tutti gli aggiornamenti sul canale italiano: https://t.co/PNQFZ430rc pic.twitter.com/69nRJt77A4
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 6, 2026
Instead, Lang’s form in Turkey has done little to convince the club to invest. He has contributed two goals and two assists in 17 appearances, numbers that have not justified a permanent transfer. Interestingly, both of his goals came in the Champions League play-offs against Juventus in February, offering only brief glimpses of his attacking quality during an otherwise inconsistent spell.
With a return to Naples now imminent, Lang’s future remains uncertain. Napoli are unlikely to reintegrate him into the squad, particularly if Conte stays on, and are expected to explore either a permanent sale or another loan deal that avoids a financial loss on their initial investment.
