Thanks to Saudi Arabia’s revolutionary mercato, African players are now among the best paid in the world. In Africa, Sadio Mané is still the highest paid African player in 2023.
Saudi Arabia has turned the ranking of the world’s highest-paid African players upside down. After this summer’s record transfers, African players who have joined the Saudi league are at the top of the best-paid rankings.
Saudi Arabia has turned many things upside down this summer. Several football stars have joined the Saudi league, including African stars. Saudi Arabia has invested a lot of money in transfers, but also in salaries. In the new ranking of the best-paid African players in the world, Saudi Arabian players dominate.
With his €22 million a year at Bayern Munich, Sadio Mané was the highest-paid African player last season. This season, however, the Senegalese has changed clubs, but not his place in the ranking of highest-paid African players. With a salary of €40 million with Al Nassr, the Senegalese is ahead in the rankings compiled by Financial Afrik. The Senegalese international is followed by Riyad Mahrez, who has also been recruited by Saudi club Al Ahli.
Kalidou Koulibaly, with an annual salary of €25 million, is 3rd in this ranking, with a difference of €10 million compared with Mahrez. Frank Kessié, who left Barça for Al Ahli, is ranked 4th among the best earners among African players following his transfer to Saudi Arabia. In 5th place is Mo Salah with €18 million.
Discover the highest-paid African players in 2023 :
1. Sadio Mané – Al Nassr : 40 M€
Sadio Mané was already the highest-paid African player after joining Bayern Munich. The Senegalese striker, who joined Bayern Munich last summer, was the highest-paid Bavarian player. After a difficult season in Germany, Sadio Mané was pushed towards the exit because of his enormous salary.
Now at Al Nassr, Sadio Mané earns a salary of €40 million a year, or around €760,000 a week. He is also one of the top 10 best-paid players in the world.
2. Riyad Mahrez – Al Ahli : 30 M€
Riyad Mahrez, who won the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup with Manchester City, has decided to move to Saudi Arabia. No longer in Guardiola’s plans, Mahrez has accepted the Saudi team’s big offer. He is now the highest-paid African player with an annual salary of €30 million, or £481,000 a week.
3. Kalidou Koulibaly – Al Hilal : 25 M€
After a complicated season in the Premier League, Kalidou Koulibaly has left Chelsea for Al Hilal. With the Saudi club, the African champion earns a salary of £412,000 a week, or €25 million a year.
4. Franck Kessie – Al Ahli : 20 M€
The Ivorian left Barcelona after just one season. Pushed towards the exit by the Catalan management, Kessie accepted an offer from Al Ahli. Kessie has signed a three-year contract with the Saudi club on a salary of £354,000 a week, or €20 million a year.
5. Mo Salah – Liverpool : 18 M€
Unlike all these great players, Mo Salah did not leave Europe for Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, the Egyptian is one of the best-paid African players. Salah is the Reds’ highest-paid player, earning £350,000 a week.
| Pos | Player | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sadio Mane | 40 M€ |
| 2 | Riyad Mahrez | 30 M€ |
| 3 | Kalidou Koulibaly | 25 M€ |
| 4 | Franck Kessie | 20 M€ |
| 5 | Mo Salah | 18 M€ |
| 6 | Seko Fofana | 15 M€ |
| 7 | Yassine Bounou | 15 M€ |
| 8 | Edouard Mendy | 11 M€ |
| 9 | Thomas Partey | 11 M€ |
| 10 | Habib Diallo | 6,5 M€ |
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