20 Highest-Paid African Footballers in the World [2025]

A significant infusion of football talent from Africa has been seen since the start of the twenty-first century. Even though the Premier League has seen a lot of international talent arrive in England, the game has never been more global. A growing number of players from the continent have played for some of the largest clubs in the globe throughout the years, making them some of the most paid football players in the world.

The amount of money paid to players has increased steadily in recent years, reaching a level that was practically unthinkable not too long ago. Having stated that, we have chosen to examine the top 20 African football players in terms of income worldwide.

African Football Players with the Highest Pay [2025] 20–16

Rank

The player

Group

Salary

16

Haller, Sebastian

Dortmund Borussia

£134,738 per week

17

Doucoure Abdoulaye

Everton

£130,000 per week

18

Gueye, Idrissa Gana

Everton

£120,000 per week

19.

Diaz Brahim

Real Madrid

£115,557 per week

20

Bennacer, Ismael

Milan AC

£111,594 per week

15Noussair Mazraoui – £135,000-a-week

Manchester United

No Manchester United supporter could have predicted Noussair Mazraoui’s impact on the game when he arrived with little fanfare in the summer, particularly after Ruben Amorim took Erik ten Hag’s place last November. The Moroccan star has performed a variety of duties for his new employers while earning £135,000 a week, demonstrating his dependability and versatility.

The 1997-born star has quickly established himself as one of the best and most versatile players available to Ruben Amorim at the moment. He has shown himself to be worth his weight in gold and appears to be set to start at the Theatre of Dreams for some time to come. The signing of Mazraoui has defied Manchester United’s history of noteworthy transfer blunders.

Details of Noussair Mazraoui’s contract with Manchester United

Weekly salary

£135,000.

Signed contract

13 August 2024

The expiration date

June 30, 2028

14Serhou Guirassy – £149,480-a-week

Borussia Dortmund

Serhou Guirassy is another African asset who is becoming quite wealthy at Borussia Dortmund. The Guinean is certainly worth his £149,480 weekly salary after having an incredible season with VfB Stuttgart last season, scoring 25 goals in 26 Bundesliga games and sending relegated opponents to European qualifying.

He made 50 appearances in his first season with his new team, scoring 38 goals. His weekly salary at Dortmund is just under £150,000, which is still a great deal given how excellent he has been in front of goal.

Details of Serhou Guirassy’s contract with Borussia Dortmund

Weekly salary

£149,480

Signed contract

18 July 2024

The expiration date

June 30, 2028

13Mohammed Kudus – £150,000-a-week

Tottenham Hotspur

One of the first things Thomas Frank did after taking over as manager of Tottenham Hotspur and replacing Ange Postecoglou was to sign Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United. Given how brilliant the forward had been for the Hammers, it was not shocking that a big six team was interested in hiring him.

Frank has a difficult job leading the team back to the top of the table after they finished in 17th place the previous time around, but he thinks Kudus can help them get there, and according to Salary Leaks, he’s paying him £150,000 a week to assist him achieve the club’s objectives.

Details of Mohammed Kudus’s contract with Tottenham Hotspur

Weekly salary

£150,000

Signed contract

10 July 2025

The expiration date

June 30, 2030

12Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – £158,358-a-week

Al-Qadsiah

The fact that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is making £158,358 a week while playing for a team like Al-Qadsiah is evidence of how extravagant football spending has become. Before they swooped for the former Arsenal forward over the summer, no one in Europe would have known the Saudi Arabian club, despite having the wealth and financial independence of the Middle East.

The Gabonese talisman had a spectacular time at Marseille, scoring 27 goals in Ligue 1 and the Europa League the previous season. However, he had a poor start with his new club, scoring only seven goals in 14 games. He has since found his form, though, and ended the season with 21 goals in 36 games. He’s getting paid his amazing pay.

Details of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s contract with Al-Qadsiah

Weekly salary

£158,358

Signed contract

18 July 2024

The expiration date

June 30, 2026

11Yassine Bounou – £158,515-a-week

Al-Hilal

Yassine Bounou, the first goalie on this list but certainly not the last, chose to join the Saudi Pro League after winning a Europa League trophy with Sevilla. Who can blame him given the wages Al-Hilal was ready to give him? The goalie is an incredible player who was a huge acquisition for Al-Hilal. He actually won Player of the Match in the Europa League final as Sevilla defeated AS Roma.

He has also played a significant role for the Saudi Pro League team. They now hold the top spot in the league and appear to be the clear favourites to win the trophy after everything is said and done. He has been excellent for them and has so far earned his £158,515 weekly salary.

Details of Yassine Bounou’s contract with Al-Hilal

Weekly salary

£158,515

Signed contract

August 17, 2023

The expiration date

June 30, 2026

10Edouard Mendy – £174,366-a-week

Al-Ahli

Edouard Mendy, another goalie, joined the Saudi Pro League last summer and rose to become one of the highest-paid African football players in the world. Before losing favour, the former Chelsea player had a brief but exciting tenure at Stamford Bridge as the starting keeper.

Last summer, he moved to Al-Ahli after receiving a huge wage offer. Since signing, he has also been a constant for the team, playing 74 games and recording 32 clean sheets. Not awful at all.

Details of Edouard Mendy’s contract with Al-Ahli

Weekly salary

£174,366

Signed contract

July 1st, 2023

The expiration date

June 30, 2026

9Inaki Williams – £180,707-a-week

Athletic Bilbao

Given that Inaki Williams has spent nearly his whole professional career at Athletic Bilbao, it is appropriate that the team has awarded him a salary of £180,707 each week. Nico’s older brother, the dazzling forward, is a legend at the Spanish club and has been playing for them at a top level for almost ten years.

He has never forced himself to leave Bilbao and has stayed committed to the team over his whole tenure, despite persistent allegations that he is leaving. He is one of the world’s few club icons, and he deserves every cent that Bilbao gives him. It’s also unlikely that he will be leaving very soon, as his current contract is set to expire in the summer of 2028.

Details of Inaki Williams’ contract with Athletic Bilbao

Weekly salary

£180,707 per week

Signed contract

August 12, 2019

The expiration date

June 30, 2028

8Franck Kessie – £221,921-a-week

Al-Ahli

We’re back with another superstar who’s making a lot of money in the Saudi Pro League after a brief hiatus. Another player on Al-Ahli’s roster is Franck Kessie, who makes slightly more than £221,921 per week at the Saudi club. The Ivory Coast international joined Barcelona in the summer of 2022 after making a name for himself at AC Milan.

After a difficult year in Spain, he relocated to Al-Ahli and has been earning a good wage ever since. He’s doing more than enough to merit it, too. In 44 games last season, he directly assisted on nine goals. For a central midfielder, not bad.

Details of Franck Kessie’s contract with Al-Ahli

Weekly salary

£221,921

Signed contract

August 9, 2023

The expiration date

June 30, 2026

7Achraf Hakimi – £230,639-a-week

PSG

Achraf Hakimi is one of the world’s most gifted full-backs, and given how many teams have shown interest in him over the years, one could argue that he should be paid more. The teams he has played for are a veritable who’s who of elite European teams. He first played for Real Madrid before becoming a top player during a loan stint at Borussia Dortmund.

After that, he thrived in Italy for a season at Inter Milan before Paris Saint-Germain made a significant investment to get him in 2021. In the years following, the Moroccan has routinely been one of the Ligue 1 club’s main talents and considering he’s only just 26 years old, he might be entitled a pay-rise in the future too.

Details of Achraf Hakimi’s PSG contract

Weekly salary

£230,639

Signed contract

July 6, 2021

The expiration date

June 30, 2026

6Victor Osimhen – £250,000-a-week

Galatasaray

Victor Osimhen has risen to the top of this list and received a huge pay increase after securing a permanent move to Galatasaray this summer. The former Napoli striker, who will earn £250,000 per week for the duration of his four-year contract, spent the 2024–25 season on loan in Turkey before finalising the deal.

According to Galatasaray’s official club statement on their website, he is one of the best strikers in the world and is hence deserving of his contract. He will probably earn much more, with bonuses and image rights fees included in his deal. With that money available, the Nigerian will be content where he is, despite the expectations of many that he would take his skills to one of the world’s greatest teams.

Details of Victor Osimhen’s Galatasaray contract

Weekly salary

£250,000

Signed contract

31 July 2025

The expiration date

June 30, 2029