The competition was formed as the FA premier league on 20 February 1992. The premier league ranks third in the UEFA coefficients of leagues based on performance in the European competitions. An estimation of about three hundred players have participated in the league so far and on a likely increase in 2018.

The first African footballer to debut in the English premier league was a Zimbabwean striker by name Peter Ndlovu. Names such as Lucas Radebe, Mustapha Hadji, Nwankwo kanu, Didier Drogba, Kolo Toure among others.


Below in the list, Columny have ranked the top African footballers with the most achievements in the English premier league in the 2016/2017 season. The criteria for inclusion are the number of appearances (minimum of 25 appearance in a season) and their major achievements or title(s) won. Each individual has been analyzed in comparism against their peers based on their total impact upon the English games during their time at a club playing in the top flight.

10. Mohammed Elneny

Club(s): Arsenal
Appearances: 48
Title won: One – FA Cup (2017)
Goals: 5

Country: Egypt

The Egyptian passing machine hasn’t seen as much action as some Arsenal fans had hoped he would but is nonetheless a solid back-up to the Gunners in midfield. He finished as a runner-up at the 2017 African Cup of Nations for his country.


9. Eric Bailly

Club(s): Manchester United
Appearances: 58
Title(s) won: Two – League Cup (2017), Europa League (2017)
Goals: 2

Country: Cote D’Ivoire

It’s early days for the Ivorian at Old Trafford but he has already shown his quality and potential as a ball-playing enforcer keeping order and starting moves from the back for Jose Mourinho, and also picked up two major titles for his troubles in his first season in England.

8. Daniel Amartey

Club(s): Leicester City
Appearances: 42
Title(s) won:: Premier League (2016)
Goals: 1

Country: Ghana

Brought in as a part of the solution to the impossible puzzle of how Leicester would replace N’Golo Kante, the Ghanaian midfielder has sank without a trace at the King Power Stadium with regards to being the first-team answer to his club’s problems.
Amartey came in as a January signing in 2016 and received a winners medal after the Foxes shocked the world to run away with the title (although he played only 117 minutes) but he has now become overshadowed by the younger, fitter and better Wilfred Ndidi, signed a year later in the 2017 January transfer window. From a potential heir to Kante to a squad player at best.

7. Alex Iwobi
Club(s): Arsenal
Appearances: 74
Title(s) won:: One – FA Cup (2017)
Goals: 7

Country: Nigeria

The latest young Gunner to roll off the production line at the Arsenal academy, Iwobi was named as the Young Player of the Year for 2016 by the Confederation of African Football. Playing alongside Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, at the start of the 2016/17 season, the Nigerian was a key ingredient in one of most fluid and threatening front lines in the league.

6. Kelechi Iheanacho
Club(s): Manchester City: Leicester city
Appearances: 70
Title(s) won:: One – League Cup (2016)
Goals: 7

Country: Nigeria

Still one for the future, Iheanacho already boasts a collection of individual Title(s) won:: to underline how highly-rated he remains – a Golden Ball winner at the Under-17 World Cup, which he won with Nigeria, who was named as the Most Promising Player in Africa by the Confederation of African Footballer in 2013 and 2017.
He now needs regular senior football to make the headway his talent deserves after a season in which opportunities haven’t been easy to come by under Pep Guardiola...

See the complete list here columny.com