Nigerian footballers are among the most sought-after players in the market. This is as the summer transfer window heats up, drawing a lot of attention. They currently lead the list of the most valuable footballers in the world, according to the most recent statistics provided by famous German football information supplier, Transfermarkt.
The player in front of the pack is Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen of Napoli, whose market worth surpasses €100 million. Last season, Osimhen’s outstanding play enabled Napoli to win their first league championship in more than 30 years.
The 24-year-old broke the Serie A Golden Boot record by scoring 26 goals in 32 games, setting a new mark.
He further surpassed George Weah’s previous mark to become the highest-scoring African player in the league with 47 goals. Furthermore, Osimhen’s extraordinary accomplishments have earned him connections with elite clubs globally, including Manchester United, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid.
Next is Ademola Lookman, a Nigerian winger for Atlanta BC who is valued at €30 million. Last season, Lookman basically put on exceptional efforts that helped his side finish in the top five in Serie A. The 25-year-old has further drawn interest from numerous illustrious clubs after recently switching his international allegiance to Nigeria.
The market worth of Nigerian midfielder Alex Iwobi, who plays for Everton, is €28 million. With two goals and seven assists in the Premier League last year, Iwobi was a key factor in helping Everton avoid the drop. Right now, as he enters the final year of his contract, talks with Everton about a new arrangement are going on.
Wilfred Ndidi, a ball-winning midfielder for Leicester, is rated at €25 million. Ndidi’s quality has not gone unnoticed despite Leicester’s relegation to the Championship last season. If he is to follow in the footsteps of his colleagues James Maddison and Youri Tielemans, a number of Premier League teams have expressed interest in the 25-year-old.
In the transfer market, other Nigerian athletes making headlines also include:
- Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi plays for Nottingham Forest and cost €25 million.
- Nigerian winger Samuel Chukwueze of Villarreal ($20 million), has drawn interest from teams like Real Madrid and AC Milan.
- Gift Orban, a Gent striker from Nigeria (20 million euros).
- 20 million euros valuation is placed on Terem Moffi, a Nigerian forward for OGC Nice.
- Nigerian striker, Kelechi Iheanacho of Leicester is valued at €18 million.
- Nigerian striker, Umar Sadiq plays for Real Sociedad and is worth €18 million.
cc: Punch Ng
