In the old towns of Dakar, the alleys of Casablanca, the sun-baked streets of Accra, and the bustling roads of Lagos, the game of football is not just a sport. It is a heartbeat, a rhythm, a dream. Children kick makeshift balls, weaving between chickens and market stalls, chasing the echoes of their heroes.
Some of these dreamers make it—through the dust, sweat, and impossible odds—to stadiums with lights so bright they turn night into day. And with that journey comes gold—more gold than their ancestors could ever have imagined. These are the 13 highest-paid African footballers, ranked by the fortunes they now command.
Here Are The Top 13 Highest-Paid African Footballers
Money is the reward, but legacy is the goal.
13. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£158,358 – Al-Qadsiah)
Once the electrifying spearhead of Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal, Aubameyang now plies his trade in Saudi Arabia, where time may have trimmed his blistering pace but not his razor-sharp instincts.
A striker of pure instinct, he still treats the net like an old friend—finding it with unerring accuracy. At Al-Qadsiah, goals remain his currency, and he earns every penny.
12. Yassine Bounou (£158,515 – Al-Hilal)
There was a time when the world whispered his name after Morocco’s fairytale World Cup run in 2022. Cool as winter air, swift as a shadow, Bounou stood between the posts like an unshakable oak. The Middle East called, and he answered, swapping Seville’s charm for Saudi riches.
11. Victor Osimhen (£158,515 – Galatasaray, on loan from Napoli)
Somewhere in Lagos, a young boy watches Osimhen tear through defences and in that moment, a dream is born. The Nigerian marksman, a warrior forged through hardship, carries his hunger to Turkey, where Galatasaray becomes another proving ground.
He became Serie A’s first African top scorer, shattered Samuel Eto’o’s records, and helped deliver Napoli's first league title in 33 years. Now, with the fire still raging, his next chapter is just beginning.
10. Edouard Mendy (£174,366 – Al-Ahli)
There was a time when Mendy stood at Stamford Bridge, lifting the Champions League trophy, a testament to perseverance. Senegal’s finest guardian, once overlooked, now earns a king’s ransom in Saudi Arabia, proving the world wrong one save at a time.
9. Inaki Williams (£180,707 – Athletic Bilbao)
There’s something poetic about Williams’ unwavering loyalty to Athletic Bilbao. Born in Spain to Ghanaian parents who crossed the Sahara on foot for a better future, his journey to the top has been anything but ordinary.
Spotted by Bilbao as a teenager, he rose through the ranks with blistering pace and relentless work ethic. Now, he’s not just a mainstay—he’s a record-breaker, holding the longest streak of consecutive La Liga appearances. While others chase fortunes abroad, he’s chosen legacy over lucre, endurance over escape.
8. Thomas Partey (£200,000 – Arsenal)
Arsenal’s midfield enforcer, carved from grit and discipline, stands as a guardian in London’s heart. Thomas Partey is not just a player; he is a wall, a conductor, the quiet force that holds the line when storms rage. The cold English nights don’t faze him—his game is built on steel and fire, and each paycheck echoes his worth in Arsenal’s grand design.
7. Franck Kessie (£221,921 – Al-Ahli)
Once a warrior in Milan’s red and black, now a king in Saudi Arabia, Franck Kessié’s journey has been one of grit, ambition, and sheer force of will. From the streets of Ouragahio to the grand stadiums of Europe, he carved his path with relentless energy.
A midfield powerhouse, he announced himself at Atalanta before cementing his legacy at AC Milan—where he played a crucial role in their 2021–22 Scudetto triumph. His time in Barcelona saw him etch his name into El Clásico history with a dramatic last-minute winner. Now, in Saudi Arabia, he reaps the rewards of years of toil, his pockets full and legacy still growing.
6. Achraf Hakimi (£230,639 – PSG)
If football were poetry, Hakimi’s game would be a sonnet of speed, skill, and intelligence. The Moroccan flyer, raised in Madrid’s shadows, first made his mark at Real Madrid, scoring in La Liga and lifting the Champions League title before 20.
A Bundesliga speed record at Dortmund, a Serie A triumph with Inter Milan, and a Ligue 1 crown with PSG—his rise has been relentless. A champion, a superstar, a man who plays like the wind and earns like a sultan.
5. Omar Marmoush (£295,000 – Manchester City)
An Egyptian on the rise, Marmoush wears the sky-blue of Manchester now. While Salah carries the flag, this young Pharaoh is carving his own path, one that leads straight to gold and greatness.
4. Mohamed Salah (£350,000 – Liverpool)
The King of Egypt, the darling of Anfield, the man whose left foot is as precious as oil in the desert. There was a time when he roamed the streets of Nagrig, barefoot, chasing a ball. Now he earns more in a week than most will see in a lifetime. And yet, he remains humble, a Pharaoh with the heart of a servant.
3. Kalidou Koulibaly (£550,047 – Al-Hilal)
A titan in defence, a warrior, a rock. The streets of Senegal still remember his name and the world respects it. He left Europe’s grand stages, but his price did not drop. He stands tall, both in frame and fortune.
2. Sadio Mane (£634,060 – Al-Nassr)
If humility had a face, it might look like Sadio Mane. A man who builds hospitals and schools in Senegal with the same hands that have lifted trophies in England and Germany. Money flows like a river, but he remains grounded, his feet still touching the soil of his homeland.
1. Riyad Mahrez (£827,448 – Al-Ahli)
The crown rests on Mahrez’s head. From the streets of Sarcelles to the dizzying heights of Premier League and Champions League glory, he now sits atop the money mountain. That left foot—like an artist’s brush—paints beauty on the pitch.
Now, in Saudi Arabia, he reigns as the highest-paid African footballer, a maestro who lets his game speak louder than any number on a contract.
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