In the exhilarating world of professional football, Africa has emerged as a breeding ground for extraordinary talent that has left an indelible mark on the global stage. As the continent continues to produce exceptional players, a captivating trend has surfaced—the rise of the highest paid African footballers. In this article, we delve into the remarkable journeys of these gifted athletes, from their humble beginnings to their stellar careers, and uncover the factors that have propelled them to the pinnacle of success, not only on the pitch but also in terms of financial recognition. Let us take a captivating tour through the lives of these trailblazers, as they shatter stereotypes, inspire a generation, and solidify Africa’s position as a footballing powerhouse on the world map.
Without further ado here are thehighest paidAfrican footballers in 2023.
1.Sadio Mane– £650,000 Per Week
Sadio Mane has recently finalized a transfer from Bayern Munich to Al Nassr, a team in the Saudi Pro League. His weekly earnings will amount to £650,000.
Having inked a deal that extends until 2027, Mane has the potential to accumulate approximately £136 million over the contract’s duration.
Just last summer, the 31-year-old became a part of Bayern through a £35 million transfer from Liverpool, signing a three-year contract. However, his status within the team changed when he lost favor due to an incident where he punched his teammate Leroy Sane after a Champions League loss to Manchester City in April.
2. Riyad Mahrez – £481,000 Per Week
In a recent development, Riyad Mahrez finalized his transfer from Manchester City to Saudi club Al Ahli for a substantial £30 million fee. He will now enjoy an astonishing weekly wage of £750,000 during his two-year contract in the desert.
Throughout his impressive tenure at the Etihad Stadium, the Algerian footballer showcased his talent in over 200 appearances across five seasons, securing an impressive four Premier League titles along the way.
3. Kalidou Koulibaly – £412,000 Per Week
Al-Hilal secured the acquisition of Kalidou Koulibaly from Chelsea through a £21.5 million agreement. It’s worth noting that Koulibaly had joined Chelsea just the previous summer, and his involvement during the 2022-23 season was limited to a mere 23 appearances.
In a £34 million transaction from Napoli, Koulibaly became a member of Chelsea, marking the commencement of a new era under owner Todd Boehly at Stamford Bridge. Over the span of 8 years, he amassed more than 300 appearances for Napoli, earning recognition in the Serie A Team of the Year on four separate occasions. Additionally, he received the distinction of being named the top defender in Italy in 2019.
4.Mohamed Salah– £350,000 Per Week
The Liverpool and Egypt forward has been one of best players worldwide in recent times.
Following a stellar first season withLiverpoolwhere he scored 43 goals for the reds, he extended his contract where he would earn £200,000 a week.
His recent contract extension at Anfield made him the highest paid player at the club. He now earns a whooping £350,000 per week, which makes him one of thebest paid players in the Premier League.
5. Franck Yannick Kessié – £334,000 Per Week
Merely a year after becoming a member of Barcelona, the Ivorian player transitioned from Barca to Al Ahli. This move came about as he found himself lower in priority within the Barcelona team due to the arrivals of Ilkay Gundogan and former Southampton player Oriol Romeu.
Both clubs officially confirmed the transfer of Kessie at a price of £11 million. Throughout the last season, the midfielder participated in 43 matches, although the majority of these were in the capacity of a substitute.
6. Edouard Mendy – £227,000 Per Week
Edouard Mendy, a talented goalkeeper from Senegal, made a name for himself during his time at Stade Rennais in Ligue 1 before making a high-profile move to Chelsea in September 2020. His exceptional performances helped solidify Chelsea’s defense, leading the club to an impressive UEFA Champions League triumph in the 2020-2021 season.
Al-Ahli, a Saudi Pro League team, recently secured the signature of Edouard Mendy, the 31-year-old Senegal goalkeeper. Mendy signed a lucrative three-year deal in Jeddah, with Al-Ahli reportedly paying Chelsea a transfer fee of approximately £16 million for his services.
7. Thomas Partey – £200,000 Per Week
On Deadline Day of summer 2020 transfer window, Arsenal successfully acquired Thomas Partey from Atletico Madrid by meeting his £45m release clause.
Reportedly, Partey’s contract at the Emirates spans four years with an option for an additional year. Notably, he will be earning an astonishing £200,000 per week, a figure four times greater than his previous earnings at Atletico Madrid.
8.Yassine Bounou– £200,000 Per Week
Moroccan international goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made a notable transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal from Sevilla in 2023, for a substantial fee of $23 million, securing a three-year contract.
At 32 years of age, Bounou had been Sevilla’s primary goalkeeper, contributing to the Spanish team’s success with two Europa League titles. He also played a pivotal role in Morocco’s journey to the World Cup semifinals in Qatar last year.
9. Sébastien Haller – £180,000 Per Week
In 2022, Sebastien Haller made a significant move to Borussia Dortmund on a four-year contract following a remarkable 34-goal season with Dutch champions Ajax.
Departing the Eredivisie champions after a brief 18-month stint, the striker is set to take up the mantle at the forefront of the Dortmund attack, potentially filling the void left by Erling Haaland.
10. Achraf Hakimi – £160,000 Per Week
The Moroccan joined PSG from Inter, after a stellar season with the Italian giants. The Parisians payed the Nerazzurri an initial fee of $71 million, with a further $9 million in add-ons based on benchmarks which are expected to be easily achieved, and then a further $4 millions of add-ons.
He has a weekly wage of £160,000, making him one of thehighest paid defendersin the world today.
