Africa over time has produced some of the biggest names in the world of football. Names like Samuel Eto’o, Yaya Toure, Didier Drogba, Kanu Nwankwo, and Jay-Jay Okocha bring back memories of beautiful talents and careers that were success-laden.
Nowadays, we still have big names from Africa who ply their trade all over the world and are very successful.
Here is a compilation of 10 of the richest African footballers around the world.
- YAYA TOURE – $101 MILLION
Yaya Toure is an Ivorian professional footballer who has played as a midfielder for top football clubs like Barcelona (Spain), Manchester City (England), Olympiacos (Greece) and Qingdao Huanghai (China). He is the former captain of the Ivory Coast national team, Yaya Toure played a crucial role in the Ivorian team that won the African Nations Cup in 2015. He is currently playing for the Chinese Super League club Qingdao Huanghai. Yaya Toure is estimated to have a net worth of $101 million.
2. MOHAMED SALAH – $30 MILLION
Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly is an Egyptian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Liverpool and the Egyptian national team. Salah has etched his name in football’s history books having won a plethora of awards, including; the PFA Players’ Player of the year, FIFA Puskas Award, FWA Footballer of the Year, the Premier League Golden Boot in 2017, BBC African Footballer of the year, etc. Salah is estimated to have a net worth of $70 million.
3. JOHN OBI MIKEL – $60 MILLION
John Obi Mikel is a 31 years old Nigerian Footballer who currently plays for the Trabzonspor FC (Turkey) following his transfer from Tianjin Teda in China in January 2019. Mikel has had the opportunity to play for clubs such as FK Lyn, Plateau United and Chelsea. Mikel is estimated to have a net worth of $60 million.
4. ODION IGHALO – $45 MILLION
Odion Jude Ighalo is a Nigerian professional footballer who recently made a dream move to the English Premier League club Manchester United, on loan from Shanghai Greenland Shenhua of the Chinese Super League. Ighalo is estimated to have a net worth of $45 million.
5. MICHAEL ESSIEN – $35 MILLION
A current player of Sabail, the Ghanian international midfielder has made a name for himself in the world of football, having spent time at some major teams across Europe such as; Lyon, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Milan, etc. He is currently on a two years contract at Sabail that runs till June 2020. Essien is estimated to have a net worth of $35 million.
6. ASAMOAH GYAN – $23 MILLION
The veteran Ghanaian national team player currently plays for the Turkish side Kayserispor. Asamoah Gyan started playing at the age of 17 with Liberty professional, a team in the Ghanaian premier league. Gyan has had the opportunity to play for some top teams such as; Udinese, Rennes, Sunderland, etc. Gyan’s net worth is estimated at $23 million.
7. SADIO MANE – $18 MILLION
The Senegalese superstar joined Liverpool in 2016 on a 5 years contract, a move that made him the most expensive African footballer at the time. Mane, however, went on to sign a new 5 years contract for Liverpool in November 2018 tying him to the club till June 2023. Mane has played 153 premier league matches for Liverpool, scoring 61 goals and laying off 22 assists. Mane has also had the opportunity to play for clubs such as Southampton, RB Salzburg, and FC Metz. Sadio Mane is estimated to have a net worth of $18 million.
8. PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG – $16 MILLION
Aubameyang was born in Lavel, France to a Gabonese father. His father, Pierre Aubameyang was the former captain of the Gabonese national team. Aubameyang has also gone on to represent the Gabonese national team 59 times, scoring 24 goals. Aubameyang is estimated to have a net worth of $16 million.
9. RIYAD MAHREZ – $16 MILLION
Riyad Mahrez earns a whopping $260,000 every week following his £60 million move to Manchester City from Leicester in 2018. Mahrez played a key role as Leicester won the premier league title in the 2015/2016 season. Riyad Mahrez is estimated to have a net worth of $16 million.
10. Wilfried Zaha – $6 MILLION
Dazet Wilfried Armel Zaha is a 25 years old professional footballer who plies his trade at Crystal Palace. Zaha has enjoyed a relatively successful career and even had the opportunity to play at Manchester United, following his move from Crystal Palace to Manchester United in 2013. He burst into the scene at Crystal Palace in 2010 at the age of 18. Zaha was voted Young Player of the Year by the Football League in 2012. He is currently the highest-earning player at Selhurst Park following his recent deal in 2018 that takes his earnings to $170,000 per week. Zaha is estimated by Forbes to have a net worth of over $6 million.
