There is no doubt that Nigerian footballers are amongst the talented footballers in Europe. Football has been a path to wealth creation for talented Nigerian boys like never before. Great footballers like Amokachi, Ikpeba, Nwankwo Kanu, Jay Jay Okocha, and the like left the shores of Nigeria for top European teams, where they went on to achieve greatness and immense wealth.
In recent times, Nigeria has been experiencing a decline in football development after the golden era. However, a new crop of Nigerian-born football stars have caused a turnaround for Nigeria, as these footballers are indirectly representing the country. As Nigerian players are recording success so the mega box are rolling in. Among the topmost earners in Europe are big names in the game.
Odion Ighalo:
Ighalo recently transferred to Manchester United on loan from the Chinese Super League side Shangai Shenshua, becoming the first-ever Nigerian to play for Manchester United. Since his transfer, he has scored a total of 5 goals in 17 appearances for the Manchester side. He is the highest-earning Nigerian footballer in Europe, earning £125K weekly.
Victor Osimhen:
Just last month, the 21-year-old Nigerian footballer, Victor Osimhen was transferred to the Italian Serie-A side, Napoli. This is one of the most expensive African footballer transfers in European football, the transfer fee costing about €50 million. This contract will keep him in Italy until 2025, lasting for about 5 years. Osimhen is also expected to earn €5 million Euros a year (an average of £96K per week) in wages, which would make him the second highest-earning Nigerian footballer in Europe, only second to Odion Ighalo. He netted 13 goals in 27 league games for Lille in the 2019/20 season.
Wilfred Ndidi:
The 23-year-old defensive midfielder joined Leicester from Belgian club Genk for a transfer fee of £17 million. He has made 36 appearances for the national team, the Super eagles. He earns £75K in weekly wages for the Premier League side.
Victor Moses:
He is currently on loan from Chelsea at Inter Milan. Joining Chelsea in 2012 after he was signed from Wigan Atheltic, he won both the Premier League and a European title with the Premier League side. He earns £75K weekly in wages.
Kelechi Iheanacho:
The FIFA Under-17 World Cup winner with Nigeria comes in 4th. He also won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup Golden Ball, which caught the eye of Manchester City.
Making his league debut for Manchester City in the 2015-16 season, he was later transferred to Leicester City, 2 years later for a transfer fee of £25 million. This made him the most expensive transfer of a Nigerian Footballer then, a record that was broken two years later by Alex Iwobi’s fee during his transfer to Everton. He earns £60K weekly wages.
