Over the years, African footballers have recorded several achievements on national and international levels which makes them a reputable force. Not only do they boast of their stunning performances and display of skills but also of their accumulated resources and millions of dollars.
While new stars such as Mohammed Sallah, Nabykeita, Victor Moses, Wilfred Zaha, and Sadio Mane are beginning to spearhead the image of football in Africa, the likes of John Mikel Obi, Jay Jay Okocha, Didier Drogba and Nwankwo Kanu have gotten their names written in the sand of time.
Meet the 10 Richest African Footballers
10. Sulley Alimuntari (Ghana)
- Date of Birth: August 27, 1984
- Age: 40 Years Old
- Status: Retired
- Net Worth: $40 Million
- Previous Clubs: Portsmouth, Internazionale Milan, Sunderland, AC Milan, Ittihad FC, Pescara, and Deportivo La Coruna
The richest African footballer on spot 10 is the former Ghanaian midfielder whose estimated net worth can be linked to his 18-year-old career as a footballer player.
Sulley started his career with the liberty professional in his hometown before moving to the Italian Serie A club Udinese and has since played with at least 8 clubs including Internazionale, and Milan.
Asides from his contracts and endorsement deals, the 40 years old also run a car business in Italy called the 4FKmotorsport which has long added to his net worth.
9. Kolo Toure (Ivory Coast)
- Date of Birth: March 19, 1981
- Age: 44 Years Old
- Status: Active
- Net Worth: $43 million
- Previous Club: ASECMimosas, Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, and Celtic.
This Ivorian player is also one of Africa’s richest football players with a net worth of $43 million thanks to his football career which has spanned over 2 decades.
His career began with the ASEC Mimosas in Ivory Coast before joining Arsenal FC in 2002 and later became a member of the famous ‘invincible s’ side of the 2003–04 season and subsequently signed for Man City where he earned $190,000 every week.
Though he also moved to Liverpool and Celtic, it wasn’t long before he retired and became an active coach for Celtic. Asides from this, he also has a number of endorsement deals.
8. John Mikel Obi (Nigeria)
- Date of Birth: April 22, 1987
- Age: 38 Years Old
- Status: Retired.
- Net Worth: $50 million
- Previous Clubs: Lyn, Tianjin TEDA, Chelsea
Mikel is one of the highly celebrated football players in his home country and beyond. He began his career at the age of 12 at the Pepsi Football Academy and he became widely known at the FIFA Under17 world Championship in Finland after he was named the second-best player after Lionel Messi.
Before he retired he played for several such as Lyn, TianjinTEDA, and Chelsea. His earnings with these clubs as well as take-home pay and endorsement deals with the likes of Amsel Malta, and peak also add to his net worth.
Asides from this, Mikel is also into real estate and according to sources, this investment cuts across countries such as Nigeria, China, and Surrey. The former also live and spends this fortune on exotic cars and houses with are scattered at home and abroad.
7. Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo)
- Date of Birth: February 26, 1984
- Age: 41 Years Old
- Status: Active
- Net Worth: $57 Million
- Previous Clubs: Monaco, Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace, Metz, Monaco, Real Madrid, İstanbul Başakşehir, Kayserispor, and Sassi
The 41 years old started his football career at the age of 11 at the Centre de Development Sportif and in 1991, he was taken to France thanks to the Metz coach Francis De Taddeo who scouted him out during the youth tournament thereafter he was taken to France.
Since the start of his career, he remained a star player and soon signed several contacts with reputable clubs in England. In 2012, he earned an estimated value of $7,540,000 from contracts alone and about $8810,000 as annual salary with Tottenham Hotspur and $268,000 weekly pay with Manchester City.
Asides from the above, he has also signed several endorsement deals with the likes of Adidas, Power Horse, and 22 Bet.
He also enjoys a luxurious life with several cars, jets, and power bikes to his name. Adebayor also owns a couple of mansions in countries such as Ghana, Togo, and UK.
6. Michael Essien (Ghana)
- Date of Birth: December 03, 1982
- Age: 42 Years Old
- Status: Active
- Net Worth: $70 Million
- Previous Clubs: Bastia, Lyon, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Milan, Panathinaikos, Persib Bandung
Micheal Essien began his career with the Liberty professionals in Ghana his home country before moving to France in 2000. At this time, he also joined SC Bastia and in 2003, he joined league champions Olympique Lyonnais. Since then, Micheal signed with other clubs including Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Milan accounting for his net worth.
Asides from his football career, he works with notable brands such as; telecom giants MTN, Samsung, and Pepsi.
Read Also: 12 Richest Black Billionaires, Their Net Worth, and How They Made Their Fortune
5. Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria)
- Date of Birth: August 1, 1976
- Age: 48 years old
- Status: Retired
- Net Worth: $100 Million
- Previous Clubs: Inter Milan, Arsenal, Iwuanyawu Nationale, Portsmouth, and West Bromwich Albion
With the above net worth, Papilo as fondly called is regarded as one of the richest football players not just in Nigeria his home country but in Africa at large.
He began his career at the age of 15 with the Nigerian team known as Iwuanyanwu Nationale from 1992 to 1993. Following his skillful outputs, he soon rose to fame on the international level after helping his national team earn a goal medal at the
While his football career remains the major contributor to his accumulated wealth, the 48 years old also makes an impressive income from his businesses. As you would easily find, he has invested in a number of businesses through the Papilo Group of companies which includes; real estate, Kanu sports TV, Papilo modeling agency, Kanu Nwankwo bottled water, sports centers, and football academy.
4. Jay Jay Okocha (Nigeria)
- Date of Birth: August 14, 1973
- Age: 51 Years Old
- Status: Retired.
- Net Worth: $150 Million
- Previous Clubs: Fenerbahce, Paris Saint Germain, Bolton Wanderers, Qatar SC, Borussia Neunkrichen, Eintracht Frankfurt, Hull City
Augustine Azuka Okocha popular as Jay Jay Okocha is a former Nigerian attacking midfielder whose career in football spanned 18 years. His career started off with the Enugu Rangers in 1990 and soon became known after helping his home country qualify for the first world cup in 1994.
Following his style of play and versatility, he became the interest of several clubs including Paris Saint- Germain who spent $13 million on him making him one of the most expensive African players last the time.
Besides his contracts with several clubs, he also signed endorsement deals with brands such as the Indian motorcycle manufacturing company Bajaj Auto, Kwik Delivery, Xiaomi, Bullet Energy Drink, New Age Charger, and Bet king.
While Jay Jay has long retired from playing football, he currently pursues an impressive business space as the CEO of the magnificent business empire known as Jay Jay Okocha Group West Africa Limited which runs into divisions such as Bureau de Change, restaurant, bar, property development, and football management.
3. Didier Drogba (IvoryCoast)
- Date of Birth: March 11, 1978
- Age: 47 Years Old
- Status: Retired
- Net Worth: $155 Million
- Previous Clubs: Le Mans, Guingamp, Marseille, Shanghai Shenhua, Galatasaray,
Montreal Impact, Chelsea, and Phoenix rising
Drogba retired at the age of 40 in 2008 and he did that after a successful football career that spanned over 19 years. He is still recognized as one of the greatest African players of all time and more specifically; a striker.
His years as a player saw him exert his striking abilities, free-kick techniques, and goal-scoring prowess which earned him global recognition in a little time. While he is mostly identified for his input in the Ivory Coast national team and the country’s peace and stability, the striker also has an impressive record with other clubs such as Chelsea and Phoenix Rising.
Drogba also made part of his wealth from endorsement deals with Pepsi which he has since redirected the earnings into charity setups. Asides from being the co-owner of the Phoenix Rising club, he also oversees and manages the Drogba Foundation. The striker has also purchased a 5% stake in a gold mine which would yield great returns in the coming years as he considers it an investment in the infrastructure of his country.
2. Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast)
- Date of Birth: May 13, 1983
- Age: 41 Years Old
- Status: Retired
- Net Worth: $170 Million
- Previous Club: Monaco, Barcelona, Beveren, MetalurhDonetsk, Olympiacos, Manchester City
For a career that started off in the mid-90s, it’s no surprise that Yaya Toure’s net worth runs into millions. His versatility quickly made him one of the highly sought-after players and this got him contracts from several reputable Clubs including the likes of Barcelona, Olympiacos, and Manchester City.
1. Samuel Eto ́o (Cameroon)
- Date of Birth: March 10, 1981
- Age: 44 Years Old
- Status: Retired
- Net Worth: $202 Million
- Previous Club: Mallorca, Barcelona, InterMilan, Anzhi Makhachkala, Real Madrid, Everton, Chelsea, Konyaspor, Antalyaspor, Sampdoria
Topping the list of Africa’s richest football players is Cameroonian, Samuel Eto’o who in many accounts is considered one of the best strikers of all time with many trophies to his name.
Since joining the Real Madrid youth team at the age of 16, he has played for over 10 teams before retiring after 20 years and earning global recognition for his goal-scoring skills.
In his early years, Eto’o held the record as the highest-paid footballer in the world with an annual salary of $26 million at a point, His contracts and endorsement deal also added up to his accumulated worth of $202 million.
Like most rich athletes, he has invested his money into several businesses including real estate, and it’s only a matter of time before his net worth runs into billions.
