Top 10 Highest Paid African Footballers 2024

Football is one of the most lucrative team sports in the world. Professional footballers plying their trade in the top leagues in the world take home mouth-watering sums of money every week.

African footballers are not being left out when it comes to hefty paychecks. Most talented and gifted African footballers are also benefactors of the money that comes with playing football.

In fact, some African football players earn far more than some of their European or American counterparts. Most African players who receive fat wages and sponsorship deals worth millions of pounds are either playing in the English Premier League, Spanish La Liga, Bundesliga, or the Chinese Super League.

In this article, we have compiled a comprehensive list of the highest-paid African footballers 2024.

1. Sadio Mane – £650,000

Sadio Mane is a Senegalese international who currently plays as a winger for the Saudi outfit, Al-Nasssr, after leaving German outfit, Bayern Munich. Mane is one of the best-paid African soccer players in Europe with a weekly salary of £650,000.

Sadio Mane, alongside his African compatriot Mo Salah, helped his club break a 30-year jinx by winning the English Premier League. Mane is also a Champions League winner with Liverpool.

4. Riyad Mahrez – £480,000

Riyad Mahrez is one of the highest-paid African footballers in the Saudi Pro League. The Algerian international currently plays for Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia. Riyad Mahrez currently earns £480,000 weekly, making him one of the top-paid African players. Mahrez won one Premier League title with Leicester, three with Manchester City and a champions league title. He was part of the team that won the last African Cup of Nations (AFCON). Mahrez is also one of the African players to bag the PFA Player Award.

3. Kalidou Koulibaly – £412,000

Alongside his international teammate Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly is one of the highest-earning African athletes. Following his move from the EPL outfit Chelsea to the Saudi Pro team, Al Hilal, Koulibaly became one of the top earners in the league.

The Senegalese international earns £412,000 per week in wages at his new club.

4. Franck Kessie – £350,000 

Following his move from the Spanish giant Barcelona to Al Ahli in the Saudi Pro League, Frank Kessie became one of the top African-earning footballers.

The Ivory Coast international won the Seria A title in the 2021–2022 season with AC Milan before securing a move to Barcelone. The combative midfielder learns about £354,000 per week in wages with Al Ahli.

5. Mohamed Salah – £350,000 

According to Forbes, Mohamed Salah is the highest-paid African footballer. Salah is the fifth highest-paid footballer in the world. Over the past 12 months, the two-time African Footballer of the Year earned a total of $37 million which includes a salary of $24 million and endorsement deals worth $13 million.

The Liverpool and Egyptian winger is currently earning a mouth-watering £350,000 weekly salary at Liverpool FC. Mo Salah plays alongside African compatriot Sadio Mane. Both were instrumental to the club’s UEFA Champions League win and league title.

6. Edouard Mendy – £227,000

Edouard Mendy is the highest-paid African goalkeeper. The former Chelsea FC goalkeeper helped the team win the UEFA Champions League in the 2020–2021 season.

Mendy secured a £16 million to Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, where he is earning £227,000 per week.

7. Thomas Partey – £200,000

Thomas Partey is a Ghanaian international who currently plays as a midfielder for the English club Arsenal. Partey is one of the best-paid African soccer players in Europe, with a weekly salary of £200,000.

8. Yassine Bounou – £200,000

Following his $23 million move from Sevilla to Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, Yassine Bounou became one of the highest-earning athletes in Africa.

The Morrocan international goalkeeper played a crucial role in his country’s journey to the World Cup semifinals in Qatar in 2022. Currently, he earns £200,000 per week with Al Hilal.

9. Sébastien Haller – £180,000

Following his move from Dutch giant Ajax to German outfit Borussia Dortmund, Sebastien Haller became one of the top earners in Africa.

The striker’s service was secured to replace the outgoing striker Erling Haaland, who switched allegiance to the English outfit Manchester City.

10. Achraf Hakimi – £176,000

Morrocan Hakimi is one of the best-rated fullbacks in the world. The Paris Saint-Germain defender has a weekly wage of £176,000, making him one of the highest-paid African footballers.