Most expensive Nigerian transfers in top 7 European leagues

Super Eagles of Nigeria

Nigerian players have been commanding quite massive transfer fees in recent years and Victor Osimhen could become the world’s second-most-expensive footballer this summer if he leaves Napoli.

Napoli president, Aurelio de Laurentiis has placed a staggering price tag of €200 million on Osimhen – if met by any club – will make him topple the transfer fee paid for Kylian Mbappé.

Nigerian players have in recent times made big-money moves. The Guardian’s Oluyemi Ogunseyin takes a look at the most expensive transfer of Nigerian players to the top seven leagues in Europe: English Premier League, Spanish La Liga, Italian Serie A, German Bundesliga, Belgian Jupiler Pro League, Dutch Eredivisie and French Ligue 1.

Victor Osimhen (Lille to Napoli – €75m)

Victor Osimhen spreads his arms wide in celebration of a Napoli title victory …on Thursday. Photo: BBCSports

He put pen to paper on a long-awaited five-year deal at Napoli with the move coming on the back of a wonderful campaign with Lille in the French Ligue 1 which saw him score 18 goals in the 2019/2020 season.

The 24-year-old who also won Lille’s Player of the Year award in his only season with them has only waxed stronger at Napoli whom he led to their first Serie A title since the 1989/90 season.

He netted 31 goals for the Partenopei in all competitions last term, 26 of which were in the league, thereby becoming the first African to finish as top-scorer and win the golden boot in the 147-year-old Serie A.

At €120m, he is the fourth most valuable player in the world behind Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and Vinicius Jnr. Osimhen is joint-fourth in value with Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Real Madrid ace, Jude Bellingham, according to Transfermarkt.

Alex Iwobi (Arsenal