The impact of African footballers in Europe is undeniable, as they have made important contributions to their team’s success. These talents have been in high demand and have earned substantial amounts in transfer fees and salaries.
From English Premier League’s Egyptian duo Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush to Champions League-winning defender Achraf Hakimi, here are the top 5 highest-earning African footballers in Europe.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, £400,000 per week)
Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah tops this list as Africa’s highest-earning footballer in Europe. Despite intense speculations of a move to join Al Hilal in the Saudi Premier League, Salah penned a bumper two-year contract extension at the Reds in April, taking his gross earnings to £400,000 per week and £20.8 million annually.
The 33-year-old enjoyed the greatest individual season in the English Premier League last campaign, topping the league in goals and assists as Liverpool claimed a 20th league title. The Egyptian superstar is also the highest-scoring African in the league (186) and has also provided the most assists by an African in the league (87).
Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint Germain, £310,758 per week)
UEFA Champions League winning star Achraf Hakimi earns a base salary of £219,947 weekly and £90,811 in bonuses, to take his total weekly earnings to £310,758 and £16.2 million per year. Arguably the best defender in the world over the past year with his consistent displays for club and country, the 26-year-old penned a four-year extension in February.
Hakimi was influential in the French side’s treble-winning season and also led the club to the finals of the FIFA Club World Cup, losing 3-0 to Chelsea in the final.
Omar Marmoush (Manchester City, £295,000 per week)
The second Egyptian player on this list, Omar Marmoush earns a gross salary of £295,000 per week and £15.3 million annually to make him the third highest-earning African footballer in Europe.
Marmoush rose to prominence in the early stages of the 2024-25 campaign, producing eye-catching displays in the Bundesliga before making the switch to England in January to join Manchester City. His long range stunner against Bournemouth in May was also voted as the Premier League’s goal of the season.
Victor Osimhen (Napoli, £256,272 per week)
Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen earns a total of £256,272 weekly plus bonuses, totaling £13.3 million annually. The Galatasaray-bound forward is set to complete a permanent switch to Turkey in the coming days after a €75 million fee was agreed with Napoli, after enjoying a very impressive loan spell last season.
Osimhen broke Mario Jardel’s longstanding record for most goals by a foreign player in the league and also bagged the Turkish golden boot as Galatasaray completed a league and cup double triumph.
Andre Onana (Manchester United, £200,000 per week)
Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana earns a total of £200,000 on a weekly basis- £120,000 as his basic salary and £80,000 in bonuses. The Manchester United shot-stopper is one of the best modern goalkeepers in the world, although he has been often criticized for his recent performances, with several high-profile errors proving costly for his side.
