African footballers who play in Europe’s most famous clubs are among the highest-paid players in the world. This is not so much a surprise as the African continent is full of potential.
The best-paid ones often evolve in Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga or in the Gulf. Let’s take a look at the top 10 highest paid Africans :
1. Cedric Bukambu – £307,000
Cedric Bukambu Joined Chinese SuperLeague side Beijing Guoan Last year in January from Villarreal at a fee of £65 Million making him the most expensive African footballer.
The Democratic Republic of Congo international earns £307,000 per week and he is the third highest-paid player in Chinese Super league with only Brazilian duo of Oscar and Hulk making more weekly.
2. Odion Ighalo – £300,000
The 30-year-old Nigerian international joined Manchester United on the transfer deadline day on loan from Chinese super league side Shanghai Greenland Shenhua.
Ighalo earns £300,000 per week with Man United paying £100,000-a-week – a third of his wages – until the end of the season with his parent club taken £200,000.
3. Mohamed Salah – £200,000
The Liverpool and Egypt forward has been one of the best players worldwide in recent times.
Following a stellar first season with Liverpool where he scored 43 goals for the reds, he extended his contract where he would earn £200,000 a week.
4. Riyad Mahrez – £200,000
The Algerian joined Manchester city last year in the summer from Leicester city signing a 5-year deal. The midfielder has been one of the continents best players for a while now.
5. Pierre Emrick Aubameyang – £198,000
After five remarkable years with Borussia Dortmund, Pierre Aubameyang left them for Arsenal and signed a 3-year contract. According to the Daily Mail, the striker earns £198,000 a week with the Gunners.
6. Sadio Mane – £150,000
Sadio Mane, the best player on the African continent at the moment. He recently extended his contract with Liverpool which sees him earn £150,000 a week. Mane previously played for Southampton and Red bull Salzburg.
7. John Obi Mikel – £130,000
John Obi Mikel is no stranger to lists of highest-paid African footballers. Following his 10 remarkable years with Chelsea, he joined Chinese club Tianjin TEDA in 2017 and later moved to Middlesbrough before signing with Turkish side Trabzonspor last year. He is the highest-paid Nigerian footballer in Turkey.
8. Wilfried Zaha – £130,000
The Crystal Palace forward was born in Ivory Coast but grew up in England. He has been representing Ivory coast since 2017 after switching allegiances. Zaha has been an important player for Crystal palace since returning to the club from Man united and recently signed a new long term contract.
9. Naby Keita – £120,000
After a stellar first season with RB Leipzig, Naby Keita Signed a pre-Contract with Liverpool in 2017 which saw him join the Reds at the end of 2017/2018 season.
10. Islam Slimani – £80,000
The Algeria international plays in Turkish super league for Fenerbahce where he is on loan from Leicester City. He currently earns £80,000 a week.
source: Ghana Crusader
