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The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History - Sports - Nairaland

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The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History by Great100000(op): 3:36pm On Aug 01, 2025
Victor Osimhen joins Galatasaray - The top 10 most expensive African players in history

Africa remains one of the most passionate continents in the world for football with millions of supporters following their favourite teams. The domestic leagues across Africa aren’t comparable to the top European leagues due to infrastructure and financial disparities but some of the most talented players in recent history were born on the continent. The African Cup of Nations (AFCON) draws attention from all around the world with the biennial event next taking place in Morocco, starting this December.


Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah will be aiming to win his maiden AFCON title, after finishing runner up in 2017 and 2021, with Morocco the most valuable African nation on Transfermarkt at €370m. Ivory Coast will be determined to defend their crown, while Victor Osimhen will be aiming to fire Nigeria to glory. Osimhen was at the centre of one of the biggest transfer sagas this summer with Galatasaray this Thursday confirming his permanent signing for a club record fee, but where will the deal land in terms of the most expensive African players of all time? Let’s find out.

The most expensive African players of all time

Arsenal’s €80m acquisition for Nicolas Pépé remains the record fee paid for an African player. The Ivory Coast winger impressed in Lille but it proved to be a disastrous signing with Pépé failing to impress in North London and left on a free transfer to Trabzonspor four years after signing. Osimhen currently ranks second after Napoli paid Lille €78.9m to sign him in 2020, but his move to Galatasaray won’t eclipse that total.

t’s understood that Galatasaray will pay Napoli €75m but the structure of the deal is set to be spread out over a five-year period. The final figure would match Omar Marmoush’s €75m move from Frankfurt to Manchester City and Bryan Mbuemo's switch to Manchester United this summer. Achraf Hakimi’s €68m move from Inter Milan to PSG and Riyad Mahrez’s €67.8m arrival at Man City complete the current top five. Mohammed Kudus’ €63.8m move to Tottenham from London rivals West Ham this summer entered the top ten in sixth position.
Source: https://www.transfermarkt.com/victor-osimhen-joins-galatasaray-the-top-10-most-expensive-african-players-in-history/view/news/457036

Re: The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History by Successsearch90(m): 11:12am On Aug 05, 2025
Wow

FTC back to back. cheesy
Celebrate Grace pls so you too can always FTC grin
Re: The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History by 89green: 11:13am On Aug 05, 2025
Osimhen, hate him or love him, man is good.

Where do I get the remaining 3 characters 🤔 grin
Re: The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History by Ladiesdoctor(m): 11:13am On Aug 05, 2025
Edo people go still dey talk

They want him to go and repair their community

Know me when I'm poor not that when I'm rich, you claim relationship

Your mother na my mama sister friend
Your father senior my father cousin
Your mama village near my mama village

Naija all the way
Re: The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History by Sirseedorf(m): 11:15am On Aug 05, 2025
Osih Bobo all the way, but still most of this clubs hate to pay huge money for an African player, they prefer signing one overhyped Oyinbo player.
Re: The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History by brain54(m): 11:15am On Aug 05, 2025
I feel osimeh should be worth more...

xxxxxxxxxxxxxc
Re: The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History by Scarrr: 11:18am On Aug 05, 2025
Pepe na the biggest fraud in the history of Arsenal
Re: The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History by papiwyte(m): 11:19am On Aug 05, 2025
Obi go soon congratulate am grin grin grin
This character typing na problem oooo
Re: The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History by Iceiscold: 11:19am On Aug 05, 2025
Osimhen have had big bag back to back.no wonder Napoli wanted to recurb all the money they paid
Re: The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History by Tunmise40: 11:21am On Aug 05, 2025
Oshimen. It's still possible he becomes the most expensive African footballer
Re: The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History by richiemcgold: 11:25am On Aug 05, 2025
I can see that the top 2 most expensive transfers were bought from fc Lille of France.
Re: The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History by ybalogs(m): 11:30am On Aug 05, 2025
This figure will soon be eclipsed. To say a flop like Pepe holds that record makes it more annoying.
Re: The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History by Wealthoptulent(m): 11:39am On Aug 05, 2025

Re: The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History by Lamasta(m): 11:48am On Aug 05, 2025
If they were to be whites they will be valued more than that

Osimhen for €75M to me is undervalued cos he has proven himself way more than that as a top goalscorer
Re: The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History by Disenfranchised: 11:51am On Aug 05, 2025
89green:
Osimhen, hate him or love him, man is good.

Where do I get the remaining 3 characters 🤔 grin
Too good playing for Gala at his prime.

Drogba at 38 played for Gala.
Re: The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History by bigdammyj: 11:52am On Aug 05, 2025
Noted.

Victor Osimhen joins Galatasaray - The top 10 most expensive African players in history.
Re: The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History by Disenfranchised: 11:53am On Aug 05, 2025
ybalogs:
This figure will soon be eclipsed. To say a flop like Pepe holds that record makes it more annoying.
That price tag on him contributed to his down turn in form. The expectations were so huge for an average player.
Re: The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History by sharminator5: 11:55am On Aug 05, 2025
Pepe was scam to arsenal that year... Ntin arsenal never see for transfer window
Re: The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History by mrkings84(m): 12:13pm On Aug 05, 2025
9ja is not giant of Africa for mouth.....

Live or hate, Nigeria is good
Re: The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History by phr0nesis(m): 12:32pm On Aug 05, 2025
Lamasta:
If they were to be whites they will be valued more than that

Osimhen for €75M to me is undervalued cos he has proven himself way more than that as a top goalscorer
Gyokeres is white, and has proven himself, yet Arsenal got him at the same price with Osimhen
Re: The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History by Mistersolar: 12:49pm On Aug 05, 2025
no,its 6months remaining on contract with napoli ...dats why
Lamasta:
If they were to be whites they will be valued more than that

Osimhen for €75M to me is undervalued cos he has proven himself way more than that as a top goalscorer
Re: The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History by 89green: 1:19pm On Aug 05, 2025
Disenfranchised:
Too good playing for Gala at his prime.

Drogba at 38 played for Gala.
Same osimhen that scored 2 goals against spurs last year, same Gala that flog man u in 2023
Re: The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History by TheStranger: 1:52pm On Aug 05, 2025
That number one on the list wasn't given adequate opportunity at Arsenal
Re: The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History by MMempire(m): 2:11pm On Aug 05, 2025
Where una put Eto the great of Cameroon? List not complete without him.
Re: The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History by Lamasta(m): 2:17pm On Aug 05, 2025
phr0nesis:
Gyokeres is white, and has proven himself, yet Arsenal got him at the same price with Osimhen
Osimhen has come a long way bro don't compare him with that Gyokeres abeg, he's good no doubt
Re: The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History by uniquetechng: 3:23pm On Aug 05, 2025
Lamasta:
Osimhen has come a long way bro don't compare him with that Gyokeres abeg, he's good no doubt
Osimhen has had just one great season in Europe top five leagues that's why top clubs were skeptical about signing him. In France his highest goal tally was below 16 while Mbappe scored 25+ ligue 1 goals that season.
At Napoli his first season was average while second was the only top season he had with 26 Series A goals, his last season was average as he ended the season with about 16 goals and that's like Olie Walkin's standard.
Re: The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History by Lamasta(m): 5:44pm On Aug 05, 2025
uniquetechng:
Osimhen has had just one great season in Europe top five leagues that's why top clubs were skeptical about signing him. In France his highest goal tally was below 16 while Mbappe scored 25+ ligue 1 goals that season.
At Napoli his first season was average while second was the only top season he had with 26 Series A goals, his last season was average as he ended the season with about 16 goals and that's like Olie Walkin's standard.
Seems you just watching Osimhen in Napoli, go back to when he was in Lille and watch him bro that's why Napoli bought him for €78M Euro, he performed in Napoli still came to Galatasary on loan to conquer them in turkey last season
Re: The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History by uniquetechng: 6:06pm On Aug 05, 2025
Lamasta:
Seems you just watching Osimhen in Napoli, go back to when he was in Lille and watch him bro that's why Napoli bought him for €78M Euro, he performed in Napoli still came to Galatasary on loan to conquer them in turkey last season
I followed Osimhen from Wolfsburg to Belgium before he was signed by Lille, in Germany he couldn't score a single goal before he was loaned out to Charleroi.
The season he had with Lille he scored just 13 league goals and was distant fourth in top scorers chart, scoring 13 goals in a lowly Ligue 1 doesn't in any way mean having a great season.
Re: The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History by nurudeen181(m): 6:59pm On Aug 05, 2025
Why Sallah no there.
,*"':;;;!!;::
Nvvbnjjb
Bbbff
I dey expect sallah name for up
Re: The Top 10 Most Expensive African Players In History by Lamasta(m): 7:11pm On Aug 05, 2025
uniquetechng:
I followed Osimhen from Wolfsburg to Belgium before he was signed by Lille, in Germany he couldn't score a single goal before he was loaned out to Charleroi.
The season he had with Lille he scored just 13 league goals and was distant fourth in top scorers chart, scoring 13 goals in a lowly Ligue 1 doesn't in any way mean having a great season.
Osimhen has been an excellent player wherever he goes

1 2 Reply

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