African footballers are no longer shining on the pitch only but they are one of the highest paid players in the world game. With giant Saudi Pro League deals and high-end European deals, the continent players are earning salaries that put them at par with the old time football superstars.
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The champions of the league into the rising stars of the premier league, these are the players who have transformed talent, timing and tactful career decisions into unbelievable amounts of money.
These are the 20 best-paid African footballers in 2026, based on weekly salary - and the paths that took them there.
1. Riyad Mahrez — £854,000 per week
Club: Al Ahli | Nationality: Algeria.
Riyad Mahrez has left the Manchester City dominance to get one of the richest contracts in the history of football. Having won four Premier League titles and finished his football career with the club, the Algerian winger signed a contract with the Al Ahli club worth an incredible amount of 854,000 per week thus becoming the highest paid footballer in Africa.
2. Sadio Mané — £650,000 per week
Club: Al Nassr | Nationality: Senegal.
The transfer of Bayern Munich to Al Nassr shocked the world of football with the move of Sidao Mané. The Senegalese legend agreed to a four-year contract worth up to 136 million pounds solidifying his place as one of the greatest African players of all time, not only in terms of legacy, but also in terms of income.
3. Kalidou Koulibaly — £412,000 per week
Club: Al Hilal | Nationality: Senegal.
Following a short stint in Chelsea, Kalidou Koulibaly found his way back to the top in Saudi Arabia. He was rewarded with a salary that befitted one of the greatest centre-backs in Africa when Al Hilal signed him at a price of 21.5 million pound and the former Napoli defensive leader.
4. Mohamed Salah — £400,000 per week
Club: Liverpool | Nationality: Egypt
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The Premier League continues to pay the most to an African player in Liverpool. Having historic goal returns and unrelenting consistency, Mohamed Salah keeps on declining Saudi offers and earning him £400,000 per week, which is a miracle of his consistent world-class performance.
5. Franck Kessié — £334,000 per week
Club: Al Ahli | Nationality: Cote d Ivoire.
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Frank Kessien chose a new beginning in Saudi Arabia after only having few chances in Barcelona. His transfer to Al Ahli was followed by an enormous salary pay that made the Ivorian a midfielder one of the highest paid in Africa.
6. Omar Marmoush — £295,000 per week
Club: Manchester City | Nationality: Egypt.
A significant breakthrough by African forwards came with the signing of Omar Marmoush by Manchester City at a price of £59 million as a replacement to Eintracht Frankfurt. Marmoush, at the tender age of 25, already belongs to some of the best-paid on the continent - and his prospects are limitless.
7. Victor Osimhen — £250,000 per week
Club: Galatasaray | Nationality: Nigeria.
The historic title win of Victor Osimhen in Napoli on the Serie A made him a superstar in the world. His goalscoring consistency makes him one of the most paid strikers in Africa despite being transferred to other teams because of transfer turbulence.
8. Édouard Mendy — £227,000 per week
Club: Al Ahli | Nationality: Senegal.
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Having won the champions league with Chelsea, Edouard Mendy joined Saudi Arabia in a 16 million deal. The Senegalese goalkeeper was 31 years old when he got a three-year contract that underscores the need of Saudi Arabia to get elite experience.
9. Achraf Hakimi — £220,000 per week
Club: Paris Saint-Germain | Nationality: Morocco.
Achraf Hakimi is one of the most complete full-backs in the world. The Moroccan star signed an agreement worth more than £70 million with Inter Milan and now earns top wages in PSG and remains at the top of the game.
10. Ademola Lookman — £207,000 per week
Club: Atlético Madrid | Nationality: Nigeria.
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Since Sunday League football in London, to Champions League nights in Spain, the rise of Ademola Lookman has been incredible. A long-term contract that rewarded perseverance and elite form saw him transferred to Atl Antonio Madrid at a cost of the huge sum of money, €35 million, which he had earned at Atalanta.
11. Yassine Bounou — £200,000 per week
Club: Al Hilal | Nationality: Morocco.
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Moroccan 2022 world cup star Yassine Bounou has used international stardom to secure a £23 million transfer by Sevilla to Al Hilal and a weekly wage of £200 000.
12. Iñaki Williams — £180,000 per week
Club: Athletic Bilbao | Nationality: Ghana.
An icon of devotion, Iñaki Williams is the highest earner in Athletic Bilbao. His infrequent long term contract is an indication of his value as well as the continuity commitment of the club.
13. Mohammed Kudus — £150,000 per week
Club: Tottenham Hotspur | Ghana.
After his superb performance at West Ham, Mohammed Kudus got a big-money transfer to Tottenham. This is shown by the amount of his salary which indicates his explosive influence and the rising influence he has had in the Premier League.
14. Bryan Mbeumo — £150,000 per week
Club: Manchester United | Nationality: Cameroon.
After years of brilliance at Brentford, Bryan Mbeumo secured a move to Manchester United. His regular goalscoring and absence at AFCON only emphasized his significance - and his £150,000 salaries per week indicate this.
15. Antoine Semenyo — £150,000 per week
Club: Manchester City | Nationality: Ghana.
Pep Guardiola was quick to snap up Antoine Semenyo following his Bournemouth breakout. The Ghanaian winger has signed a contract which lasts until 2031 and has been successful and financially stable.
16. Serhou Guirassy — £149,480 per week
Club: Borussia Dortmund| Nationality: Guinea.
In 2024, Borussia Dortmund acted quickly to get Serhou Guirassy when the Guinean striker went on a scoring spurt, with 30 goals in one Bundesliga season at Stuttgart. Guirassy, having been rewarded with a contract till 2028, now earns nearly 150,000 a week, which is not only a testament to his deadly finishing, but also a testament to his ascension to the ranks of elite strikers in Europe.
17. Yoane Wissa — £140,000 per week
Club: Newcastle United | Nationality: DR Congo.
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The unstoppable advance of Yoane Wissa was to be topped by a 55 million pound transfer of Brentford to Newcastle United in September of 2025. The 28-year-old forward was given the legendary number 9 shirt and signed a four-year contract until 2029, currently earning an average of about £7.28 million per year, which is a clear indication of the fact that Newcastle trusts the forward to deliver on the attacking side.
18. Noussair Mazraoui — £135,000 per week
Club: Manchester United | Nationality: Morocco.
In August 2024, Manchester United signed Noussair Mazraoui, who joined Bayern Munich in 2021. The multitalented Moroccan defender came in a deal worth as much as up to 17 million and signed a four-year contract up to 2028 and earns a weekly salary of 135,000, as he settles in the Prem.
19. Nicolas Jackson — £125,000 per week
Club: Bayern Munich (loan) | Nationality: Senegal.
In 2025, Bayern Munich loaned him to Chelsea on a season-long basis, giving Nicolas Jackson a fresh start in his career. The transaction consists of a large loan fee and an elaborate obligation-to-buy provision which may surpass £56 million. Jackson is one of the highest paid young forwards in Africa on a salary of £125,000 per week, as he continues to impress in Germany.
20. Brahim Díaz — £121,000 per week
Club: Real Madrid | Nationality: Morocco.
Brahim Diaz is ever-increasing in significance at Real Madrid. Following a renewal in 2023 until 2027, at the start of 2026 it was reported that he is set to have another long-term renewal, which could keep him at the Bernabéu until 2030. Such a creative and versatile player is rewarded with an annual salary of £121,000 per week, which shows how Madrid believes in him.
21. Rayan Aït-Nouri — £120,000 per week
Club: Manchester City | Nationality: Algeria.
In June 2025, Manchester City signed Rayan Ait-Nouri of Wolves as a part of their squad development under Pep Guardiola. Signed on a five-year contract until 2030, the Algerian left-back earned him a salary of £120,000 per week after his transfer that may increase to over £36 million.
22. Amad Diallo — £120,000 per week
Club: Manchester United | Nationality: Cote d Ivoire.
In January 2025, Amad Diallo was rewarded with a new long-term contract as a result of his development at Manchester United. Now the 22 year old winger is bound to the club until 2030 and is earning 120,000 a week after becoming a trusted attacking supply at Old Trafford.
23. Idrissa Gueye — £120,000 per week
Club: Everton | Nationality: Senegal.
Idrissa Gueye is a 35-year-old player who cannot be replaced at Everton. The Senegalese midfielder, having won the 2024/25 Player of the Season award in the club, signed a one-year extension up to 2026. His 120,000-a-week wage explains his leadership and legacy in midfield.
24. André Onana — £120,000 per week
Club: Trabzonspor (on loan) | Nationality: Cameroon.
Andre Onana is still among the most paid goalkeepers in Africa even after a difficult stint at Manchester United. He signed with Inter Milan in 2023 and is under contract until 2028, on loan at Trabzonspor to the 2025/26 season where he still earns £120,000 per week.
25. Samuel Chukwueze — £120,000 per week
Club: Fulham (loan) | Nationality: Nigeria.
Samuel Chukwueze was loaned to Fulham by AC Milan to play the 2025/26 season to offer speed and directness to the Premier League. It is a potential permanent transfer of up to £24.5 million and the Nigerian winger earns up to 120,000 pounds a week to rekindle his fortunes in England.
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