Find out the ranks of the most expensive transfers of African football players as well as how they have impacted global football as well as how their record-breaking moves have shaped their careers.
You will find African footballers playing in the major leagues around the world. There is a significant number of African players in each of these leagues. Talk of the UK premier league where players such as Mohammed Salah of Egypt, Michael Essien of Ghana, Sadio Mane of Senegal Didier Drogba of Ivory Coast, and Adebayo of Nigeria, among others. It is a similar case in other European leagues as well as other continents.
The African players have made a significant impact on global football. They have risen to the pinnacle of the game in top leagues across the world. Whether it is in the striking, center, or defense departments, the African players have seen several record-breaking transfers. Most of which have made headlines worldwide. In this article, we rank the most expensive African player transfers ever as well as highlight how these legends have influenced football.
It is important to appreciate that these footballers are not just renowned for their price tags but also they have come to be identified as the best African Premier League players to have graced the English top flight.
1. Nicolas Pepe – Lille to Arsenal (£72m)
Nicolas Pepe takes the title of the most expensive African player. His record £72m transfer from Lille to Arsenal in 2019 was breaking news. BBC Sports described it as one of the most expensive transfers involving an Ivorian player and Africa at large. For Nicolas Pepe, this was an intense moment. Being here is very emotional,” said Pepe. “I have come a long way and struggled a lot and so signing for this great club is a big reward.
Pundits associate Pepe’s huge transfer fee to his performance at Lille where he had 22 goals to his name as well as 11 assists. One would have expected the exemplary performance to continue, however the hype died down upon arrival at Arsenal. Pepe did not live up to the expectations of his new team. He struggled in the premier league where he only scored 16 goals over three seasons despite having 80 appearances.
2. Riyad Mahrez – transfer to Manchester City for (£60m)
The record was broken, not just in the amount involved in transferring an African player, but also in Manchester City. Riyad Mahrez, one of the best African Premier League players, was all over the headlines when Manchester City paid a staggering £60m. He was coming from Leicester City. At the club, the player had already made a name for himself as one of the key figures in Leicester, a team that miraculously won the 2016 Premier League title.
Unlike Nicolas Pepe, Mahrez’s performance at Manchester City did not dim, his success continued. He was to add four more titles to his name, not forgetting the FA and EFL Cups that the team bagged during this time.
At the international level, the Algerian player was part of the team that helped his home country bag the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations title. Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City coach is on the record praising him, where he said, “Riyad is one of the most technical players I have ever worked with. His football brain is extraordinary.”
3. Achraf Hakimi – Inter Milan to PSG (£60m)
Achraf Hakimi’s move from Inter Milan to PSG in 2021 for £60 made him the most expensive African soccer player. His performance at Inter Milan was exemplary and this continued at PSG where his club won three Ligue 1 titles.
4. Victor Osimhen transfer from Lille to Napoli at £57.5m
Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen’s move in 2020 entered the record as the most expensive African soccer player in Serie A. Not everyone was happy with the spending, some questioned it on the basis that the player did not have adequate experience in European football. However, Victor proved his worth by becoming one of the most important players at Napoli.
5. Aubameyang’s move from Borussia Dortmund to Arsenal at £56m
In January 2018, Arsenal, a club that its detractors label as broke, was on a spending spree when they made a record to sign Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund for £56m.Pundits argued that the player was worth the figure as he had already proved himself in the Bundesliga where he even won the German’s League Golden Boot in 2016-17.
If these transfers and many others are anything to go by, it is true that African players have a significant influence on the global stage. The fact that they are commanding some of the highest transfer fees means that they represent the best of the global talent.
