Some of Europe’s biggest footballing stars call the African continent their home and many proudly represent their home nations in internationals. The collective talent of African stars have risen in the last couple of decades and so have their valuations. The most valuable African footballers from the four areas of the pitch, Forward, Midfield, Defence and Goalkeeper, have a combined market value of €250M. According to data presented and broken down by Wette.de, Mohamed Salah is the most valuable African player in Europe valued at €100M As of September 2021.
Salah most Valuable Footballer From African Continent – €100M Valuation
In the 2019/20 season, Salah helped Liverpool end its long wait for its maiden English Premier League title and also won the prestigious UEFA Champions League with the Merseyside club in 2019. As Liverpool’s top talisman Salah is considered one of the best footballers in all of world football and is valued at €100M, currently the highest valuation of any player who is a member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Salah’s Liverpool teammate, Sadio Mane of Senegal, is valued as the second most expensive footballer from the continent valued at €85M. Moroccan right-back Acharaf Hakimi, who recently made a big-money move to Paris Saint-Germain from Inter Milan, is valued at €60M owing to his relatively young age of 22.
Most Valuable African Player By Position
In terms of positions, the aforementioned tandem of Salah and Mane are naturally the highest valued African forwards in Europe. Victor Osimhen of Nigeria is the third most expensive African forward valued at €50M and currently showcases his talents in Serie A with Napoli. Notably four of the top five African forwards all play in the English Premier League, with Wilfried Zaha of Ivory Coast and Riyadh Mahrez of Algeria finishing the top five respectively.
Wilfred Ndidi is the most expensive African midfielder in Europe with a valuation of €60M. The Nigerian is a starter at the heart of Leicester City’s midfield and his relative youth at just 24 makes him a valuable player for the Foxes. Similarly, at also 24, AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie of the Ivory Coast is valued next highest at €55M. Arsenal’s Thomas Partey of Ghana completes the top three with a valuation of €40M.
The aforementioned Achraf Hakimi takes his rightful place as the most expensive defender from Africa. Kalidou Koulibaly of Senegal, who plays his club football for Napoli, is next on the list with a valuation of €48M. Another promising defender, 22-year-old Edmond Tapsoba of Burkina Faso is third at €40m.
The goalkeeping position seems to be where talent from the continent is still lagging. Cameroonian Andre Onana who is currently suspended until November for Ajax in the Netherlands, is the most expensive African keeper at €30M. Chelsea’s Senegalese goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy and Sevilla’s Bono, who plays for the Moroccan national team, are the only other goalkeepers from the continent valued at double-digits with, €24M and €18M respectively.
Rex Pascual, Sports Editor at Wette.de, commented:
“The African continent’s stature in world football has steadily grown over the last few decades, evidenced by South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 World Cup, the first for an African nation. In club football, some of the biggest names from Africa ply their trade in the top domestic leagues of Europe, with some stars like Egypt’s Mohamed Salah reaching superstar level as Liverpool’s bonafide star.”
