Top 10 Richest Footballers In Nigeria (2023)

Football is one of the most financially rewarding professions in the world, with players earning vast sums of money for their skills on the field.

In Nigeria, a select few footballers have made it to the top of the financial ladder through their successful careers in the sport. In this article, we’ll be exploring the top 10 richest footballers in Nigeria for the year 2023.

It’s fascinating to see how these players have amassed their wealth, and we’re excited to share their stories with you. So, let’s jump right in and discover who made it to the top of the list!

Check out our short video slide of the Top 10 Richest Footballers in Nigeria and their net worth.

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You can continue reading to learn more about each player and how they accumulated their massive wealth.

Top 10 Richest Footballers In Nigeria – Overview

1. Mikel Obi

Former Super Eagles captain, Mikel John Obi is the richest footballer in Nigeria, with an estimated net worth of  $60 Million. He 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 honors and awards including the Premier League, Champions League, and the African Cup of Nations.

2. Obafemi Martins

Obafemi Martins, with an estimated net worth of $41 Million takes second place among the richest footballers in Nigeria. He is one of the best-skilled footballers to come out of the country, known for his speed on the ball. He Left  Nigeria for Italy at age 16 and has since played for a number of top-division clubs around Europe.

Obafemi began his senior career in 2002 at Serie A club Inter Milan, before he moved to Premier League club Newcastle United in 2006, and then to Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg in 2009. Having joined Russian Premier League side, Rubin Kazan, in July 2010, they loaned him to Birmingham City in January 2011. He spent a season with La Liga club Levante, he played for Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer from 2013 to 2015, scoring 40 goals, before spending several years in China with Shanghai Shenhua and Wuhan. 

Obafemi has won the Serie A title, the Italian Cup (twice), and the Italian Super Cup, all with Inter. With Birmingham, he scored the winning goal in the 2011 Football League Cup Final. He has played European football with Inter, Newcastle, and Wolfsburg, winning the UEFA Intertoto Cup with Newcastle.

3. Odion Ighalo

With an estimated net worth of $35 Million, Odion Ighalo joins the list of the richest footballers in Nigeria. The 33-year-old footballer plays as a striker for Saudi club Al Hilal and the Nigeria national team.

Ighalo began his career at Nigerian clubs Prime and Julius Berger, before moving to Norwegian club Lyn in 2007. A year later, he was signed by the Italian club Udinese, spending most of his tenure on two separate loan spells with the Spanish club Granada.

In 2014, Ighalo signed for Championship club Watford and was integral in the club’s promotion to the Premier League in the 2014–15 season. He joined Chinese Super League club Changchun Yatai in January 2017, for a reported £20 million, before moving to Shanghai Shenhua.

In January 2020, Ighalo returned to the Premier League, joining Manchester United on loan, initially until the end of the 2019–20 season; the loan was then extended until January 2021. He represented Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup and was the highest goalscorer in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

4. Ahmed Musa

Turkish Süper Lig player, Ahmed Musa is one of the richest footballers in Nigeria, with an estimated net worth of $28 Million. He is one of the most prolific goal-scorers to come out of the country. He held the record for the highest number of goals ever scored in one season in the history of the Nigeria Premier League until it was broken in 2011.

Musa began his career in the Nigeria Premier League, playing for the Kano Pillars FC. He set the league record by scoring multiple crucial goals as the team finished second. Musa was transferred to the Dutch club VVV-Venlo in  2010,  before moving to the  Russian CSKA Moscow for an undisclosed fee.

In 2016, Musa moved to Leicester City for a club record £16.6 million. He returned to CSKA Moscow on loan for the remainder of the 2017–18 season, before moving to Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr on a permanent deal. In 2021, Musa rejoined the Nigerian club Kano Pillars. He presently plays left winger for Turkish Süper Lig club Fatih Karagümrük.

5. Victor Moses

Spartak Moscow winger Victor Moses, takes fifth place among the richest footballers in Nigeria, with an estimated net worth of $23 Million. He is one of the most decorated Nigerian players who played in the Premier league. He played in Nigeria’s winning campaign at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

Moses began his career in the Championship with Crystal Palace, before his performances caught the eye of Wigan Athletic, where he made his Premier League debut in 2010. After two years, his game had improved to the extent that European champions Chelsea were interested, and he signed for them in the summer of 2012.

Despite ten goals in all competitions during his first season, he spent his second season on loan to Liverpool, his third on loan at Stoke City, and his fourth on loan at West Ham United. Moses was recalled to Chelsea for the 2016–17 season, winning the Premier League. He then spent subsequent loan spells with Fenerbahçe, Inter Milan, and Spartak Moscow in the following seasons.

6. Emmanuel Emenike

Emmanuel Emenike, with an estimated net worth of $20 Million, takes sixth place among the richest footballers in Nigeria. The now-retired footballer played as a Striker for the Nigeria  National team and numerous clubs across the world. He was Twas pivotal to Super Eagle’s victory in the 2013 African Nations Cup.

Like many players on the list, Emenike began his football career in the Nigeria Premier League Playing for the Delta Force. He then moved to the South African National First Division team Mpumalanga Black Aces, then the First Division team F.C. Cape Town in 2008.

Emenike played for the Turkish Sporting Club Karabükspor, before joining Fenerbahçe for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around 9 million euros. Without any notable impression at the club, he was sold to Spartak Moscow for €10 million in the same year. He also played with Greek champions Olympiacos in 2017 and most recently the  Belgian club Westerlo.

7. Victor Osimhen

Nigerian Napoli Superstar, Victor Osimhen is presently one of the hottest prospects in football and also one of the richest footballers in Nigeria, with an estimated net worth of $18 Million.  He made his senior international debut in June 2017 and since then proved himself as one of the best to come out of the country.

Osimhen began his senior career in Germany at VfL Wolfsburg in 2017. Following a season and a half at the club, he moved to Belgian side Charleroi on loan in 2018–19, before moving to France at Lille. In 2020, Osimhen transferred to Serie A club Napoli for a club-record fee of €70 million.

Osimhen won the Golden Boot award at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, which Nigeria won. He also won the Serie A Best Young Player award in the 2021–22 season.

8. Alex Iwobi

Everton Winger, Alex Iwobi, joins the list of the richest footballer in Nigeria, with an estimated net worth of $15 Million. He made his senior international debut for Nigeria in October 2015, and was part of their squads at the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019 and 2021,

Iwobi began his club career at Arsenal, making 149 appearances and scoring 15 goals, and winning the FA Cup in 2017, as well as scoring in the 2019 UEFA Europa League Final. In August 2019, he transferred to Everton for an initial £28 million fee, rising to £34 million with potential add-ons.

9. Kelechi Iheanacho

Leicester City forward, Kelechi Iheanacho is also one of the richest footballers in Nigeria, with an estimated net worth of $14 Million. He was part of the Nigeria squad that won the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup and the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Iheanacho began his senior career at Manchester City during the 2015–16 season. He ended the season with 14 goals and 5 assists from 35 appearances.  He won the 2015–16 Football League Cup with the team, defeating Liverpool 3–1 in a penalty shoot-out after the match had finished 1–1 after extra time.

Iheanacho moved to Leicester City in 2017 for a reported £25 million fee. With Leicester City, he won the 2021 FA cup in 1–0, against Chelsea. They also faced 2020–21 Premier League champions Manchester City in the 2021 FA Community Shield. Iheanacho was substituted during the 79th minute and scored the winning goal, an 89th-minute penalty against his former club.

10. Wilfred Ndidi

Concluding the list is another Leicester City player, Wilfred Ndidi, with an estimated net worth of $10 million, putting him in tenth place among the richest footballers in Nigeria. Ndidi is known for his defensive prowess and long-range strikes. He plays defensive midfielder for his club and the Nigeria national team.

Ndidi began his career as far back as 2002, playing for local teams in several league divisions in Nigeria. In 2015 Ndidi moved from the Nath Boys Academy to the Belgian Pro League Genk in a transfer deal worth €180,000. He spent a season at the club and scored the goal of the season in the league.

In 2016, Genk agreed to a £17 million transfer deal for Ndidi to Leicester City. With Leicester City, Ndidi won the 2021 FA cup in a 1–0 match, against Chelsea and the 2021 FA Community Shield against Mancity.

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Richest Footballers In Nigeria and Their Net Worth

The table below contains the names and net worth of the richest footballers in Nigeria:

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