The 10 highest-paid African footballers
They earn huge sums on the pitch, but who are the highest-paid African footballers?
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10. Thomas Partey (Ghana) - Arsenal: despite limited game time at Arsenal because of injuries, the Ghanaian midfielder earns €10.4 million a year. He is also sponsored by Adidas, which boosts his income through endorsement deals.
9. Edouard Mendy (Senegal) - Al-Ahli: pushed towards the exit at Chelsea, the Senegalese goalkeeper was one of the first to answer the call of Saudi Arabia. The former Rennes man is on a contract worth €11 million a year, which makes him the highest-paid African goalkeeper, ahead of Al Hilal's Yassine Bounou.
8. Inaki Williams (Ghana) - Athletic Bilbao: the Ghana Black Stars forward, on a salary of €11.4 million a year, remains loyal to his lifelong club, Athletic Bilbao. His off-field income includes deals with Nike, his kit supplier, and other local brands.
7. Franck Kessié (Ivory Coast) - Al-Ahli: Kessié, on a salary of €14 million a year, signed for Al-Ahli after a difficult season at Barcelona. He has sponsorship deals with brands such as Adidas, which add to his income.
6. Seko Fofana (Ivory Coast) - Al-Nassr (on loan at Al-Ettifaq): having left Lens to join Saudi Arabia, the Ivorian midfielder earns no less than €15 million a year through his contract with Al-Nassr. His off-field income is less developed, but he benefits from a few local partnerships in Ivory Coast.
5. Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) - Napoli: by far the highest-paid player in Serie A, Osimhen earns €18 million a year at Napoli. His growing popularity in Europe has enabled him to sign deals with brands such as Nike and numerous partnerships in Nigeria, which guarantee him additional off-field income.
4. Mohamed Salah (Egypt) - Liverpool: Salah earns €21.2 million a year at Liverpool, a figure that can rise to €24.3 million with bonuses. But the Pharaoh is just as well off away from the pitch, with equally impressive earnings. With endorsement deals with Adidas, Pepsi, Vodafone and others, the Egyptian makes around €16.3 million extra each year from these partnerships.
3. Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal) - Al-Hilal: Koulibaly, on a salary of €25 million a year, joined Al-Hilal after a mixed spell at Chelsea. His off-field income is more modest compared with other continental stars, but he is still linked to brands such as Puma, his kit supplier, and IBS, the distributor of Coca-Cola group drinks in Senegal.
2. Sadio Mané (Senegal) - Al-Nassr: deemed surplus to requirements at Bayern Munich, where he was already the club's top earner, the Senegal international pulled off a huge financial move by joining Al-Nassr. He is on a contract worth around €40 million a year. And that is without counting his deal with kit supplier New Balance, as well as collaborations with Air Sénégal and Orange.
1. Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) - Al-Ahli: the Algeria international is the highest-paid African player, on €52.2 million a year. He has received that sum since signing his highly lucrative contract with Al-Ahli after leaving Manchester City. Off the pitch, Mahrez also earns millions through endorsement deals with brands such as Nike, Pepsi and EA Sports.