Who is the highest paid African footballer right now?

When looking at the world of football, it is impossible to deny the appeal and influence of African stars, who are among the top players with sky-high salaries. Any discussion of the highest-paid footballers must include the talent from the continent. They are not only symbols of strength and skill on the field but also wealth and influence in the modern football industry. This is just a small part of the story behind the highest-paid African footballers—a story of passion, commitment, and success. In the following article, let’s learn with King Soccer Tips to explore the highest paid African footballer, who is among the most famous names in the football world today.

List of 10 highest paid African footballer today

Who is the highest paid African footballer of all time?

1. Riyad Mahrez (Al Ahli – £858,944/week)

Riyad Mahrez has officially moved to Al-Ahli FC (Saudi Arabia) with an impressive salary, as announced through a nearly 1-minute video on the club’s Twitter. Manchester City also confirmed the transfer and expressed gratitude to Mahrez after 5 years at Etihad Stadium. During that period, the Algerian star participated in 236 matches in all competitions, scoring 78 goals and assisting 59.

Riyad Mahrez - Highest paid African footballer — Riyad Mahrez – Highest paid African footballer

Although details of the contract were not disclosed, British media reported that Al-Ahli paid 30 million pounds to Manchester City to recruit Mahrez. In Saudi Arabia, Mahrez will receive a lucrative salary of up to 858,944 pounds per week. He became the second star to join Al-Ahli in the summer of 2023, promising to bring new strength to the club.

2. Sadio Mane (Al Nassr – £658,194/week)

Sadio Mane is a Senegalese striker who has officially become the highest paid African footballer in history, with a weekly income of more than 658,194 pounds after tax. After completing the medical examination, Mane signed a four-year contract with Al-Nassr, the team that finished runner-up in the Saudi Pro-League 2023.

Sadio Mane has become the highest paid football player in Africa

At Al-Nassr, Mane will play football with the world’s top stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Alex Telles, Marcelo Brozovic, and Seko Fofana. Despite his considerable success while playing for Liverpool, Mane encountered a decline in form after joining Bayern Munich with a staggering salary of £17 million per season. He also faced the challenge of finding regular playing time. However, with Al-Nassr, Mane hopes to restore his form and return to brilliance on the field.

3. Kalidou Koulibaly (Al Hilal – £570,984/week)

Kalidou Koulibaly, the Senegalese defender, left the Premier League after just one year with Chelsea to join Al Hilal with an impressive salary of £570,984 per week. This marks a quick transition in his career, just after he joined Chelsea from Napoli for a fee of £34 million.

Kalidou Koulibaly has joined Al Hilal with a huge salary

The Sun reports that Koulibaly is currently earning nearly £300,000 per week at Al Hilal, almost double what he earned during his time at Chelsea, where he received £160,000 per week. Chelsea confirmed Koulibaly’s departure via the club’s official website, acknowledging his contribution during his single season at Stamford Bridge, where he made 32 appearances for the Blues.

4. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool – £300,000/week)

After losing Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich, Liverpool did everything possible to retain striker Mohamed Salah. Salah, who is now the highest paid African footballer, saw his contract negotiations become a focal point due to his significant salary demands. Like Mane, the Egyptian player’s contract was set to expire in 2023. However, negotiations between the two sides had been deadlocked for some time. Liverpool eventually made a breakthrough in the negotiations.

Mohamed Salah is the highest paid players in Africa

According to the Daily Mail, Liverpool agreed to pay Salah £300,000 per week. With this income, the Egyptian star became the highest paid African footballer. Salah’s previous salary at Liverpool was only £200,000/week. In contrast, the person who earned the most money at The Kop before Salah’s new contract was Virgil van Dijk, who earned £200,000 per week.

5. Seko Fofana (Al Nassr – £250,114/week)

Seko Fofana is an Ivory Coast midfielder who officially joined Al Nassr from Lens FC in Ligue 1, according to information from Saudi Arabian media. Ronaldo’s team had to pay a transfer fee of about £32 million to acquire the services of Fofana, who had previously attracted attention from giants such as Liverpool and Manchester City.

Seko Fofana was recruited by Al Nassr with an attractive salary

Although Fofana is not yet a global star, he is highly regarded for his versatility on the field and his excellent game vision. Al Nassr coach Luis Castro believes that the Ivory Coast midfielder is a perfect fit to partner Marcelo Brozovic, who also recently joined the club from Inter Milan. With a weekly salary of £250,114, Fofana became the highest paid African footballer at Al Nassr.

6. Achraf Hakimi (PSG – £239,418/week)

PSG completed a high-profile deal when signing Achraf Hakimi from Inter Milan. Hakimi was signed for 71 million euros, including 60 million euros upfront and 11 million euros in additional fees, making him one of the most expensive players in the club’s history. The Moroccan player will stay with PSG for 5 years and receive an annual salary of 8 million euros. He will wear the number 2 shirt at Parc des Princes.

Achraf Hakimi is among the highest paid African footballers today

Hakimi’s departure broke the transfer record for a defender at PSG, surpassing David Luiz from Chelsea in the 2014/15 season. At the same time, he also became the third-most-expensive contract in the history of the Paris club, only behind Neymar and Kylian Mbappé. With great expectations, Hakimi will bring a breakthrough and make an important contribution to PSG’s future success.

7. Franck Kessie (Al Ahli – £230,368/week)

Franck Kessie, the talented midfielder, chose a new path for his football career when he joined Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia. With an impressive salary, three times higher than his income at Barcelona, Kessie is currently the highest paid African footballer at his new club.

Franck Kessie joins Al-Ahli with an impressive salary

Kessie joined Barcelona from Milan last summer on a free transfer, but after only one season, he had to leave Camp Nou because he could not adapt to coach Xavi’s playing style. Barcelona sold Kessie to Al-Ahli for 15 million euros, a deal considered mutually beneficial. The Ivory Coast midfielder has signed a new 3-year contract with Al-Ahli, marking a new chapter in his career. Kessie’s new deal positions him as the highest paid African footballer, a status he achieved due to the lucrative terms of his contract.

8. Victor Osimhen (Napoli – £211,000/week)

Victor Osimhen is a talented Nigerian striker who has officially signed a new contract with Napoli, which runs until June 2026. Under this new agreement, he earns an impressive salary of up to 10 million euros per season after tax. The contract includes a release clause, estimated at around 120-130 million euros, applicable to clubs outside Italy starting in the summer of 2024.

Napoli spent 75 million euros and bonuses to recruit Osimhen from Lille in September 2020. Quick adaptation to Italian football has helped Osimhen become an important part of Napoli’s squad, making a significant contribution to the team’s success. This also helped him win the Serie A Golden Boot for the 2022/23 season, affirming his strength and talent on the field.

9. Thomas Partey (Arsenal – £200,000/week)

Thomas Partey, the Ghanaian midfielder, is well-known for his consistent and high-quality performance in recent seasons. He is known for his physical strength and tactical vision and is an important part of Arsenal’s midfield.

Thomas Partey is the highest-paid African footballer of all time

To obtain Partey’s services, Arsenal had to pay the entire release clause amount of up to 42.5 million pounds. At the same time, the salary this midfielder receives at the Emirates Stadium was revealed. Partey is paid 260,000 pounds per week, an impressive figure and four times higher than the salary he previously received at Atlético Madrid, which was only 65,000 pounds per week. This demonstrates Arsenal’s appreciation for Partey’s abilities and their determination to strengthen the squad. Notably, Partey’s contract makes him the highest paid African footballer, highlighting his status as a key asset for the team.

10. Iñaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao – £187,585/week)

During the winter transfer window nine months ago, Liverpool showed interest in Iñaki Williams and wanted to sign him. However, the Basque club Athletic Bilbao decided to reject all proposals to sell him. To keep their ‘jewel,’ Athletic Bilbao and Iñaki signed a new contract that was valid until 2021.

Iñaki Williams is receiving a huge salary commensurate with his talent

Iñaki continues to perform consistently this season, and Liverpool has once again expressed its intention to sign him. This time, The Kop is said to be willing to spend 50 million euros to activate Iñaki Williams’ contract release clause, to bring the 1994-born talent to Anfield.

Conclusion

Thus, the list of the 10 highest paid African footballers of all time is not only a representation of outstanding talents on the field but also of significant strides made by African players in the global football arena. These stars are not only excellent athletes but also icons, paving the way for future generations in the field of sports. By demonstrating their skills and efforts, they have proven their worth and received significant salaries at top clubs around the world. “If you are passionate about sports news like this, please visit our website to get daily updates!