How Africa
- Many clubs broke the bank to sign players in a bid to strengthen their squads, even as many records were smashed. Interestingly, Africans were not left out of the fray.
From Paul Pogba’s £89million world bang to Sadio Mane’s historic African £35million, what’s better than the 2016/2017 transfer window?
Arguably nothing.
Many clubs broke the bank to sign players in a bid to strengthen their squads, even as many records were smashed. Interestingly, Africans were not left out of the fray.
Here are Africa’s most expensive transfers of all time.
Sadio Mane: Senegal (From Southampton to Liverpool) – £35million
Senegal’s Saido Mane is Africa’s most expensive player of all time. Image: Reuters Here comes the first on the log- Sadio Mane. Following an excellent spell of form at Southampton last season, the Senegal international became the most expensive African player in history, when he moved from Southampton for Liverpool on June 28, for a record fee of £35 million. Mane so far has proven his worth with a superb form with the Reds since he scored his league debut goal against Arsenal. With time, who knows if he will become Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool Messi?
Eric Bailly: Cote d’Ivoire (From Villarreal to Manchester United) – £30million
Second on the chart is Ivorian Eric Bailly. Since his arrival at Manchester United from Villarreal for a stunning £30million as a defender, he has become United’s defensive maestro. The 22-year-old Cote d’Ivoire international has shown he is undoubtedly a force to reckon with as Jose Mourinho hopes to bring back the glorious days to Old Trafford. Can he make history with Mourinho? You have to wait till the end of the season.
Islam Slimani: Algeria (From Sporting Lisbon to Leicester City) – £29.5million
Are you still with me?
Algeria’s Islam Slimani now plays for the reigning EPL champions. Image: Daily Mail From Bailly we are heading for the third. He is Islam Slimani. The Algerian whizkid stole headlines when Leicester City struck a deal on deadline day, partying ways with an initial 30 million euros’ clause plus a further 5-million euros in add-ons to sign the forward from Sporting Lisbon. With Slimani completing a trivalent partnership with Ahmed Musa and Jamie Vardy up front for the reigning EPL champions.
Wilfried Bony: Cote d’Ivoire (From Swansea City to Manchester City) – £28million
The Ivorian striker, Wilfred Bony, now plays for Stoke City. Image: Sky Sports Here’s the the fourth on the countdown. Meet Wilfred Bony. The Ivorian striker might have been in the eyes of the storm as of late, but he still remain a deadly striker anytime any day. He held the title of Africa’s most expensive player for 18 months after moving from Swansea City to Manchester City at the beginning of 2015. However, following his deep in form at the Etihad Stadium, he has been whisked away to Stoke City on loan on deadline day. Can he still blaze the trail?
Emmanuel Adebayor: Togo (From Arsenal to Manchester City) – £25million
Emmanuel Adebayor comes the fifth on the table. Image: BBC Remember him? He is Emmanuel Adebayor- the Nigerian-born Togolese forward. Manchester City, back in 2009 splashed £25 million on the deadly gigantic striker from Arsenal. He is currently a free agent following subsequent spells with Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid and Crystal Palace.
Yannick Bolasie: DR Congo (From Crystal Palace to Everton) – £24.5million
Yannick Bolasie from DR Congo signed a £24.5million with Everton. Image: Sky Sports Don’t get it twisted! The countdown still continues. On the sixth is Yannick Bolasie, an undoubted world beater. His reputation might have been lampooned by critics for his inconsistent run of form. But with Everton, he might yet stage another comeback.
Michael Essien: Ghana (From Lyon to Chelsea) – £24.4million
One time Ghanaian football star, Michael Essien. Image: Reuters Essien’s move from Lyon to Chelsea during Jose Mourinho’s first spell in Chelsea for £24.4million raised dusts, but the midfielder’s tenacity paid off as he was part of the Chelsea squad that claimed their first historic Champions League in 2012. Sadly, injuries seem to have blighted most part of his career.
Didier Drogba: Cote d’Ivoire (From Marseille to Chelsea) & Yaya Toure (From Barcelona to Manchester City) £24million
Jointly on the eighth and ninth place respectively are arguably two of Africa’s finest players to have graced the Premier League history- Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure- two players in a world of their own.
Drogba walks tall with four league titles and four FA Cups at Stamford Bridge, becoming one of the London club’s all-time greats.
One of Africa’s finest, Didier Drogba. Image: Goal.com Yaya is a two-time Premier League champion with the Citizens, but now, his future looks bleak with the arrival of Pep Guardiola.
Yaya Toure is a two-time Premier League champion with Man City. Image: Goal.com Medhi Benatia: Morocco (From AS Roma to Bayern Munich) £21.9million
10th on the list is Medhi Benatia. Image: Juventus.com Benatia demonstrated intelligent defensive performances with AS Roma, leading to Bayern scooping him ahead of various other suitors. The Moroccan defender won two German titles in Bavaria, but only managed 29 league appearances under Pep Guardiola before moving on loan to Juventus this season.
Most Expensive African Football Players of All Time
Rank Name Country Transfer Fee 1 Sadio Mane Senegal £35million 2 Eric Bailly Cote d’Ivoire £30million 3 Islam Slimani Algeria £29.5million 4 Wilfried Bony Cote d’Ivoire £28million 5 Emmanuel Adebayor Togo £25million 6 Yannick Bolasie DR Congo £24.5million 7 Michael Essien Ghana £24.4million 8 Didier Drogba Cote d’Ivoire £24million 8 Yaya Toure Cote d’Ivoire £24million 10 Medhi Benatia Morocco £21.9million
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