Top 10 Richest Footballers in Africa (2024)

Football is no doubt the most popular sport in Africa, the sport was first introduced to the continent in the early 1860s by Europeans, due to the colonization of Africa. The first recorded games were played in South Africa in 1862 between soldiers and civil servants and there were no established rules for the game at the time.

Over the years, Football in Africa has experienced unprecedented development, there are now thousands of teams and federal governing bodies across the continent. However, the sport is plagued with numerous issues such as Human trafficking, lack of organization by national team officials, and internal disputes between players and federation officials.

In the 1990s, football in Africa experienced huge waves of change. One big change was the football migration to Europe. Many talented young players sought big careers in Europe and shot for their chance to make it big. Many of these players were able to rise to the top of the game becoming the highest earners in the profession. These players make money from numerous avenues including sponsorship and endorsement deals. Here is a compiled list of the richest footballers in Africa in 2024.

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1. Samuel Eto’o

Samuel Eto’o with an estimated net worth of $95 Million is the richest footballer in Africa in 2024. He was once the highest-paid player in the world while he was with Russian football club FC Anzhi Makhachkala, earning a whopping $25 million a year.

The Cameroonian legend began his professional career in Real Madrid at the age of 16, moving to Mallorca in 2000 where he scored 70 goals. His impressive form saw him join Barcelona in 2004 where he scored 130 goals in five seasons and also became the record holder for the most appearances by an African player in La Liga.

Samuel Eto’o is generally considered one of the African greatest players in history, He was a key member of the Barcelona attack, alongside Ronaldinho, that won the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final, and was part of the team that won the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final.

He is a recipient of many medals and awards such as the Pichichi Trophy (2006), African Player of the Year (2010, 2006, 2005), CAF Youth Player of the Year (2001), CAF Africa’s finest XI (2009, 2007, 2006), CAF Award for Best Ten players of the last 50 years (2008). Eto’o is currently the president of the Cameroonian Football Federation.

2.  Didier Drogba

Chelsea legend, Didier Drogba, with an estimated net worth of $90 Million takes second place among the richest footballers in Africa in 2024. Drogba was one of the highest paid in Football history earning $105,000 a week when he was at  Chelsea, and $325,000 at Shanghai Shenhua.

The Ivorian footballer made his professional debut aged 18 for Ligue 2 club Le Mans and signed his first professional contract aged 21. He is best known for his career at Chelsea, where he moved to in 2004, for a club record £24 million fees, making him the most expensive Ivorian player in history.

In his first season, he helped the club win their first league title in 50 years, and a year later he won another Premier League title.  He is presently the club’s fourth-highest goal scorer of all time. In  2012, he became the first African player to score 100 Premier League goals and helped the club win the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final.

He was named African Footballer of the Year twice, winning the accolade in 2006 and 2009. On April 21, 2023, he was inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame.

3. Mohamed Salah

Egyptian Liverpool star, Mohamed Salah joins the list of the richest footballers in Africa in 2024, with an estimated net worth of $90 Million. The 29-year-old Striker is presently one of the highest-paid footballers in the world earning as high as £400,000 per week.

Salah began his professional career in 2010 playing for Al Mokawloon, departing in 2012 to join Basel, where he won two Swiss Super League titles. He joined Chelsea in 2014 for a reported fee of £11 million, but limited game time led to successive loans to Fiorentina and Roma, who later signed him permanently for €15 million.

In 2017, he was signed by Liverpool for £36.9 million, becoming the most expensive Egyptian player of all time.  He has since then won the Premier League, the UEFA Champions League, the League Cup, and the Premier League Golden Boot three times.

Salah is considered by many as one of the greatest African players of all time,  He was ranked 3rd place among the Best FIFA Men’s Player in 2018 and 2021 and also received the 2018 FIFA Puskás Award for his winning goal against Everton in  2017–18 Premier League season.

4. Yaya Toure

Yaya Toure, another Ivorian legend with an estimated net worth of  $70 million, joins the list of the richest footballers in Africa in 2024. Touré began his playing career at the Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas, where he made his debut at age 18. His performances attracted attention from Europe. He had stints with Beveren, Metalurh Donetsk, Olympiacos and Monaco before moving to Barcelona in 2007.

He played over 100 matches for the club and was part of the historic 2009 Barcelona side that won six trophies in a calendar year. In 2010, Touré moved to Premier League club Manchester City, where he scored a number of key goals, most notably the only goals in the 2011 FA Cup semi-final and final. He also helped City earn their first league title in 44 years.

He was voted African Footballer of the Year in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014. In December 2015,  He won the BBC African Footballer of the Year on a public vote for the second time, after leading the Ivory Coast to victory in the 2015 African Cup of Nations.

5. Mikel Obi

Professional Nigerian Player Mikel Obi, joins the list of the richest footballers in Africa in 2024, with an estimated net worth of $45 million. The Nigerian star is one of the most successful players in the country with an 18-year international senior career in different top clubs and 3 years playing in youth leagues.

Mikel began his career with local club Plateau United, before joining Norwegian club Lyn at the age of 17 in 2004. In 2006, he made a controversial transfer to English club Chelsea after Manchester United claimed they had already signed him. He stayed with Chelsea for 11 years, before moving to China with Tianjin TEDA in 2017.

After two years in China, he returned to England on a short-term deal with Middlesbrough, before joining Trabzonspor on a free transfer in July 2019. Mikel moved back to England in August 2020 joining Stoke City. The 35-year-old player is a recipient of many hours and awards including the Premier League, Champions League, and the African Cup of Nations.

6. Emmanuel Adebayor

Emmanuel Adebayor is a Togolese professional footballer and one of the richest footballers in Africa in 2023, with an estimated net worth of $45 Million.

Adebayor began playing for Sporting Club de Lomé before he was spotted by scouts from Metz, who brought him to France in 1999. He made his professional debut in 2001. before he was transferred to Monaco in 2003. Premier League giant Arsenal Signed Adebayor for £3 million in January 2006.

He has since then played for several other teams including Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace, Real Madrid, İstanbul Başakşehir,  Kayserispor, and Club Olimpia. He was voted African Footballer of the Year for 2008 while playing at Arsenal.

7.  Michael Essien

Ghanaian professional footballer, Michael Essien joins the list of the richest footballers in Africa in 2024, with an estimated net worth of $35 Million. During his prime, he was considered one of the best midfielders in the world.

Essien began his career playing for Liberty Professionals in Ghana. Before moving to France to join Bastia, in 2000, where he would spend three seasons. He joined Lyon in 2003 and won back-to-back league titles in 2003–04 and 2004–05. He also won Ligue 1 Player of the Year in 2005.

In 2005,  Premier League  Club Chelsea Signed Essien for a £24.4 million transfer fee and, at the time of his signing, was the most expensive African footballer in history.  At Chelsea, Essien helped the club win the Premier League in 2006 and 2010, as well as three FA Cups and one League Cup. He won the UEFA Champions League in 2011–12.

8. Asamoah Gyan

Asamoah Gyan is a Ghanaian former professional footballer who played as a striker. He is a former captain of the Ghana national team. Gyan’s net worth is $30 Million. He began his career in 2003 with Ghana Premier League club Liberty Professionals, scoring ten goals in sixteen matches.

He then spent three seasons with Serie A club Udinese via two seasons loan at Modena, netting on fifteen occasions in 53 league matches and at Udinese where he scored 11 times in 39 league matches. He represented Ghana at the FIFA World Cup in 2006,2010 and 2014. Gyan is the highest African to have scored more goals at the World Cup.

9. Odion Ighalo

Odion Jude Ighalo  is a Nigerian professional footballer who currently plays as a forward for Saudi Pro League club Al-Wehda and the Nigeria national team. With a net worth of $28 million, he is one of the richest footballers in Africa.

After starting his career at Nigerian clubs Prime and Julius Berger, Ighalo moved to Norwegian club Lyn in 2007. A year later, he was signed by Italian club Udinese, spending most of his tenure on two separate loan spells with Spanish club Granada. Ighalo has played for clubs like Watford, Changchun Yatai, Shanghai Shenhua, and Manchester United.

10. Thomas Teye Partey

Thomas Teye Partey is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Arsenal and the Ghana national team. Partey’s net worth is $28 million.

Partey began his professional career at Spanish club Atlético Madrid in 2013 before going on loan to Mallorca and Almería, and returned to Atlético in 2015, with whom he won the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Super Cup in 2018. In 2020, he joined Arsenal in a transfer worth £45 million (€50 million), becoming the most expensive Ghanaian player of all time.

Summary

For the sake of emphasis here is a recap of the top 10 richest footballers in Africa in 2024:

• Samuel Eto’o – $95 Million
• Didier Drogba – $90 Million
• Mohamed Salah  – $90 Million
• Yaya Toure – $70 Million
• Mikel Obi – $45 Million
• Emmanuel Adebayor – $45 Million
• Michael Essien- $35 Million
• Asamoah Gyan – $30 Million
• Odion Jude Ighalo – $28 Million
• Thomas Teye Partey – $28 Million