An African football powerhouse, Nigeria has an influx of footballers playing locally and abroad. These footballers earn surprisingly good wages every week for showcasing their talents in different arenas across the world. Besides the high wages they take home, Nigerian footballers are also traded for huge amounts of cash across different leagues.
This article explores the highest-paid footballers from Nigeria playing for different teams across the world and you can wager on them if you enjoy sports betting in Zambia through online platforms.
William Troost-Ekong – Paok
Born to Dutch and Nigerian parents, William Troost-Ekong is among the highest-paid players with a Naija descent. The 30-year-old made his debut for the Nigerian Super Eagles in 2015 despite being eligible to join Netherlands and his career has soared since.
Ekong started his senior club career with FC Dordrecht and FC Groningen in the Netherlands, before joining the Belgium side KAA Gent in 2015. Since then, the Nigerian star has played for different teams including Udinese, Watford, Salernitana, and Coventry City.
Currently, Troost-Ekong earns close to £1 million every year playing for Greek side PAOK. The 30-year-old has earned over £4.87 million in his football career and he’ll continue earning more before his contract with Paok expires on 30th June 2026.
Kelechi Iheanacho – Leicester City
Nicknamed Senioman Kelz by his fans, Kelechi Iheanacho is renowned for his speed, vision, dribbling, and finishing. The Nigerian International started his senior club career with Manchester City in 2015, where he won the Football League Cup. Iheanacho later transferred to Leicester in 2017 for a whooping £25 million, the highest transfer amount for any Nigerian footballer and second-highest in the continent.
Iheanacho was named in the final Super Eagles squad that took part in the 2023 AFCON competition hosted in Ivory Coast from 13th January to 11th February. His effectiveness and experience were what made coach Jose Peseiro feature him in his squad, hoping to go all the way. That said, the Nigerian star earns £80,000 weekly or £4.16 million per annum.
Victor Osimhen – Napoli
A 25-year-old Lagos native, Victor Osimhen is another highly respected player in Nigeria’s football scene. The Napoli striker is among the best players in the world, popular for his elite pace, strength, athleticism, and finishing.
Osimhen started his senior club career in 2017 with the German side Wolfsburg, before moving to Belgium to play for Charleroi the following season. The former Golden Boot award winner joined Napoli from Lille in 2020, where he earns about £210,603 every week or £10.9 million per annum.
Over the last two seasons, Osimhen has taken his game from strength to strength as he helped Napoli win the Serie A title with five assists and 26 goals in 32 matches. His impressive performance has caught the attention of several teams including Chelsea and Arsenal, who are ready to part with €90 million to sign him.
Who’s the highest-paid Nigerian footballer?
Victor Osimhen ranks as the highest-paid Nigerian player considering his weekly and annual salary. Osimhen also has a high market value, with Premier League teams willing to pay over $90 million to secure his services. However, Nigeria has an influx of highly-paid footballers, including Odion Ighalo, William Troost-Ekong, Taiwo Awoniyi, Joe Aribo and others.
