Africa’s top players are starting to join the top earners in the world and most of them are doing so largely thanks to their weekly wages, match bonuses and other on-field earnings.
Check out the top five earning African players at the moment, as well as the ones who may soon break into the top five when the summer transfer window opens later in 2025.
Kalidou Koulibaly – £20 million
The Senegal defender has settled well in Saudi Arabia since leaving Chelsea for Al Hilal in 2023, with most of his earnings coming from his weekly wage and match bonuses.
Achraf Hakimi – £26 million
Infamous for supposedly having all this assets in his mother’s name, the Morocco full-back remains one of PSG’s bright stars, leading to a contract extension with the club in February. A chunk of his earnings comes from his wages as well.
Sadio Mane – £44 million
Since linking up with Al Nassr where he stars alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Senegal’s attacking gem is one of the Saudi Pro League’s highest earning players and barely needs off-field earnings to make this list.
Mo Salah – £45 million
The Egyptian’s current contract at Liverpool will expire this summer and it remains to be seen if he will renew with the Reds. If he does not, he could be set to become the highest earning African player before the year ends as Saudi clubs battle to get his signature.
Riyad Mahrez – £50 million
The Algerian was already earning good money while at Manchester City, but has seen his wages triple since joining Al Ahli of the Saudi Pro League in 2023, with less than five percent of his earnings coming from elsewhere.
Mahrez may lose the title of highest earning African player later this year, depending on how business goes during the summer transfer window.
Salah leads the race to become the highest earning African player, while Victor Osimhen could break into the top five (he’s currently not far behind Koulibaly) when his loan at Galatasaray expires.
The Nigerian was close to signing for Chelsea and PSG over the last two years and remains on the radar of both clubs, as well as Manchester United.
Another Nigerian who may become one of Africa’s highest earners is Ademola Lookman as the Atalanta man continues to put up top performances on a consistent basis for club and country.
The spat with manager, Gian Piero Gasperini, may have set the wheels in motion for a big-money move to another top club in Europe.