Nigeria transfer rankings 2026: Top 10 most expensive moves of the summer

Nigeria’s summer transfer market has produced a striking mix of young talent, established Super Eagles players and attackers looking for a fresh start, Afrik-Foot reports.

The fees also tell different stories. Brighton paid a huge sum for an 18-year-old winger from Sweden. Venezia made Akor Adams the most expensive signing in its history. Coventry City used its return to the Premier League to bring in two Nigeria internationals. Genk broke its own transfer record for a Nigerian striker.

This money ranking table could still change with the transfer deadline still a few days away and Victor Osimhen and Femi Azeez still being wanted by top European clubs.

Nigeria power transfer rankings

10. Chidozie Awaziem, Nantes to Konyaspor, €1m

Chidozie Awaziem takes 10th place after his move from Nantes to Konyaspor. The Turkish club agreed a fee of about €1 million for the 29-year-old Nigeria defender. He signed a two-year contract after Nantes were relegated from Ligue 1 at the end of the 2025-26 season.

Awaziem had returned to Nantes in 2025 after previously playing for the French club in the 2017-18 season on loan from Porto. He made 26 appearances last season, scoring once and providing two assists.

The move also takes him back to Turkey, where he has played before. Konyaspor finished ninth in the Turkish Süper Lig last season and now have an experienced Nigeria international at the heart of their defence.

9. Tolu Arokodare, Wolves to Ajax, €1.17m loan fee

Tolu Arokodare’s move to Ajax is a loan, but it carries a clear financial cost. Ajax paid a reported £1 million, or about €1.17 million, to take the 25-year-old striker from Wolverhampton Wanderers for the 2026-27 season. Ajax confirmed that the agreement also contains an option to buy.

The striker arrives in Amsterdam with a strong Belgian record. He was the Jupiler Pro League’s top scorer in the 2024-25 season with Genk before moving to Wolves in 2025.

Ajax want his size and strength to give their attack a different option. The 1.97m striker also has 10 Nigeria caps and is now competing for a place at one of Europe’s most famous clubs.

8. Terem Moffi, Nice to Hamburg, €2.5m package

Terem Moffi’s move to Hamburg gives him a chance to restart his career in Germany. Hamburg agreed to pay €2 million up front, with another €500,000 in add-ons. That puts the full package at €2.5 million. Moffi signed a three-year contract and took the No. 9 shirt.

The 27-year-old striker had spent three and a half years at Nice. He scored 24 goals and made five assists in 72 games for the French club before his departure. He also had a short loan spell at Porto.

Moffi arrives at Hamburg as the club looks to consolidate their status in the Bundesliga. He will face a much tougher test against Germany’s top clubs, but regular football could help him recover his best form.

His summer also included strong performances for Nigeria. Moffi provided two assists against Zimbabwe in the Unity Cup before scoring against Jamaica and Poland.

7. Anthony Dennis, Göztepe to Al Jazira, €5m

Anthony Dennis made a major jump from Turkey to the United Arab Emirates. Al Jazira paid €5 million to sign the 22-year-old midfielder from Göztepe, with bonuses also reported in the agreement.

Dennis joined Göztepe’s Under-19 team in the 2022-23 season and quickly moved into the senior squad. Across three seasons, he played 15 matches in the Turkish second tier and 63 in the Süper Lig, scoring five goals.

Göztepe wanted him to sign a new contract, but Dennis rejected the offer. With only one year left on his deal, the Turkish club faced the risk of losing him for nothing in 2027. Al Jazira moved quickly and secured the midfielder before that problem grew. The deal also ended interest from clubs in England and Germany, including Coventry City and Elversberg.

6. Frank Onyeka, Brentford to Coventry City, €7m

Frank Onyeka’s permanent move to Coventry is worth €7 million. The 28-year-old midfielder first joined Coventry on loan in February 2026. The move became permanent after Coventry won the Championship and returned to the Premier League for the first time in 25 years.

That makes Onyeka one of the most expensive Nigerian moves of the summer. He now has a familiar teammate in Taiwo Awoniyi, who also joined Coventry this summer. The pair have played together for Nigeria and are now part of Frank Lampard’s squad in the Premier League.

Onyeka began his senior career at FC Midtjylland before joining Brentford for €10 million in 2021. His Coventry contract runs until June 2030.

5. Raphael Onyedika, Club Brugge to Eintracht Frankfurt, €10m

Raphael Onyedika has moved into the Bundesliga after four seasons at Club Brugge. Eintracht Frankfurt paid about €10 million for the Nigeria midfielder, according to German reports. He signed a contract until June 2031 and will wear No. 25.

Onyedika, 25, leaves Belgium with a strong trophy record. He won two Belgian league titles, the Belgian Cup and the Belgian Super Cup with Brugge. He also played 24 Champions League matches during his last three seasons in Belgium. That experience helped convince Frankfurt to make him a long-term part of their midfield plans.

Frankfurt’s sporting board member Markus Krösche praised Onyedika’s consistency and his ability to combine physical strength with tactical understanding.

4. Rafiu Durosinmi, Pisa to Genk, €10.5m

Rafiu Durosinmi’s move to Genk is one of the summer’s most interesting Nigerian transfers. Genk paid €10.5 million for the 23-year-old striker. The deal also includes €500,000 in performance bonuses and a 10% sell-on clause for Pisa.

The fee made Durosinmi Genk’s record signing. His route to Belgium was unusual. Pisa had signed him from Viktoria Plzeň only in January 2026 for about €9 million. Six months later, Pisa sold him to Genk for a higher fee.

His Czech record explains the interest. Durosinmi scored 35 goals and provided 10 assists in 86 appearances for Viktoria Plzeň.

He also made an instant impact in Belgium. On his Genk debut against Zulte Waregem, he scored after 39 minutes from a Junya Ito cross and won the Jupiler Man of the Match award. Genk lost 2-1, but Durosinmi had already announced himself.

3. Taiwo Awoniyi, Nottingham Forest to Coventry City, about €10.5m

Taiwo Awoniyi’s transfer to Coventry has given the newly promoted club another experienced Premier League striker. Coventry agreed a reported £9 million, which is about €10.5 million.

The 29-year-old signed after four seasons at Nottingham Forest. He joined Forest from Union Berlin in 2022 and scored 23 goals in 103 appearances in all competitions.

His Forest career also included a serious injury. In May 2025, he suffered a ruptured intestine after colliding with a goalpost against Leicester and was placed in an induced coma. Awoniyi left Forest after losing his place for much of last season. The move to Coventry offers a new start under Lampard.

Coventry had won the Championship before their Premier League return. Awoniyi then faced Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on 21 August in the club’s first league game back in the top flight. Arsenal won 3-0.

He has already scored for Coventry. On Tuesday night, he opened the scoring in a 4-2 Carabao Cup win over Plymouth Argyle after only four minutes.

2. Akor Adams, Sevilla to Venezia, €16m plus €4m

Akor Adams is second after Venezia made him the most expensive signing in the club’s history.

Venezia paid €16 million up front, with another €4 million in bonuses. The total package can reach €20 million. Some reports give a higher maximum because of additional variables, but the confirmed structure from ANSA is €16m plus €4m. The 26-year-old signed until June 2030.

Adams developed at Jamba Academy in Nigeria before moving to Norway. He played for Sogndal and Lillestrøm before joining Montpellier in France. Sevilla signed him in January 2025. He made 37 appearances for the Spanish club, scoring 10 goals and creating four more.

Venezia’s decision came after Adams built a strong reputation in Spain. The Italian club now expects him to lead the attack as it competes in Serie A. The move is also important for Nigeria. Adams has 15 senior caps and six goals for the Super Eagles.

1. Zadok Yohanna, AIK to Brighton, €28m plus €2m

Zadok Yohanna is clear at the top. Brighton agreed an initial €28 million deal for the teenage winger from Swedish club AIK, with another €2 million in add-ons. The total can reach €30 million, a Swedish league transfer record.

Brighton officially announced the agreement on 6 June. The club gave Yohanna a five-year contract until June 2031.

The teenager started at Ikon Allah Football Academy in Nigeria before moving to Sweden in 2025. He needed little time to adapt. Yohanna made 18 appearances for AIK in league and cup football before his Brighton move, scoring five goals and providing four assists.

His transfer also beat the previous Swedish league sales record set by Lucas Bergvall’s move from Djurgården to Tottenham for €20 million in 2024.

Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler praised Yohanna’s pace, creativity and ability to take on defenders. The club also knows that the 18-year-old will need time to adjust to Premier League football. That is the challenge now. Yohanna has gone from Nigerian academy football to Sweden and then into a Premier League squad in a very short period.

At €28 million before add-ons, no Nigerian player has commanded a higher confirmed summer 2026 fee in this ranking.

NOTE: This ranking uses reported transfer fees paid in the 2026 summer window. Loan fees are included when a club paid a clear fee for the loan. Future purchase options are not counted as money already spent.