Rumored fee: €75 million
Africa is home to some of the most passionate football supporters in the world, with millions following their favorite clubs. While the continent’s domestic leagues lag behind Europe in terms of infrastructure and financial strength, Africa has produced some of the most skilled players in football history. The African Cup of Nations (AFCON), taking place in Morocco this December, garners global attention.
Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah is eager to clinch his first AFCON title, having been a runner-up in both 2017 and 2021. Morocco is currently the most valuable African football nation on Transfermarkt, valued at €370 million. Defending champions Ivory Coast will be striving to hold onto their title, while Victor Osimhen aims to lead Nigeria to victory. Osimhen is at the center of a significant transfer saga this summer, with Galatasaray set to secure him for a record fee. This raises the question: where will this deal rank among the most expensive signings of African players? Let’s explore.
The Most Expensive African Players of All Time
The record for the highest fee paid for an African player belongs to Arsenal’s €80 million acquisition of Nicolas Pépé. The Ivory Coast winger showed promise at Lille, but his time in North London was disappointing, ultimately leaving on a free transfer to Trabzonspor four years later. Currently, Osimhen is ranked second, as Napoli paid Lille €78.9 million for him in 2020; however, his upcoming transfer to Galatasaray won’t surpass that amount.
Reports indicate that Galatasaray has an initial agreement to pay Napoli €75 million, but the specifics of the deal, which includes installments and potential add-ons, are still being finalized. This sum would match Omar Marmoush’s €75 million transfer from Frankfurt to Manchester City, currently placing third on the list. Achraf Hakimi’s €68 million move from Inter Milan to PSG and Riyad Mahrez’s €67.8 million transfer to Manchester City round out the top five. Additionally, Mohammed Kudus’ €63.8 million transfer to Tottenham from West Ham this summer has placed him sixth in the rankings of the most expensive African players.
