Premier League’s top 20 African legends by appearances: Iwobi 2nd, Drogba 14th

Alex Iwobi has drawn level with Mohamed Salah as the second-most-capped African player in Premier League history, moving closer to Kolo Touré’s record.

The Nigeria international reached 328 Premier League appearances on Saturday after starting Fulham’s 1-0 win over Coventry City at the Coventry Building Society Arena. He played 74 minutes before being substituted, with Oscar Bobb scoring the winner in the 80th minute.

Iwobi has now made 100 Premier League appearances for Arsenal, 123 for Everton and 105 for Fulham. He is the first African player to reach 100 league appearances for three different Premier League clubs.

Only former Manchester City and Arsenal defender Touré, with 353 appearances, stands ahead of him. Iwobi needs another 25 games to equal the record, while Salah also reached 328 appearances before he switched England for Turkey this summer.

Here are the 20 African players with the most Premier League appearances and what they achieved in English football.

African players with most Premier League appearances

1. Kolo Touré – 353 appearances

Kolo Touré remains the most-capped African player in Premier League history, having played 353 times for Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool.

The former Ivory Coast international joined Arsenal in 2002 and became an important member of Arsène Wenger’s defence. He was part of the Invincibles side that completed the 2003-04 Premier League season unbeaten.

Touré won two Premier League titles with Arsenal before adding another with Manchester City in 2011-12. His strength, defensive awareness and ability to play out from the back made him a valuable player for all three clubs.

His record has stood for years, but Iwobi is now just 25 appearances away from matching it.

2. Alex Iwobi – 328 appearances

Alex Iwobi has built an impressive Premier League career across Arsenal, Everton and Fulham. The Super Eagles playmaker has established himself as one of Africa’s most experienced players in the English top-tier.

The Nigerian came through Arsenal’s academy and broke into the first team under Wenger. He featured in the club’s 2017 FA Cup final victory over Chelsea and later played in their 2019 Europa League campaign.

After joining Everton in 2019, Iwobi became an important creative outlet, using his versatility to operate across midfield and attack.

In 2023, he moved to Fulham, where he remains an integral part of the first team.

Iwobi has scored 36 Premier League goals and provided 38 assists in 328 appearances, giving him 74 direct goal contributions.

With Touré’s record within reach, the Nigerian has a realistic chance of becoming the most-capped African player in Premier League history.

3. Mohamed Salah – 328 appearances

Salah shares second place with Iwobi but has made an even bigger mark through his remarkable goalscoring record.

The Egyptian joined Chelsea in 2014 but struggled to establish himself before moving to Italy. His performances for Fiorentina and Roma helped revive his career before Liverpool brought him back to England in 2017.

Salah made an immediate impact, scoring 32 goals in his first Premier League season for Liverpool and setting a then-record for goals in a 38-game campaign.

He has won multiple Premier League Golden Boots, the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award and the Premier League title. He has also helped Liverpool win the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.

Salah has scored 193 Premier League goals and provided 94 assists, giving him 287 direct goal contributions. His output has made him one of the competition’s most prolific forwards and a defining figure in Liverpool’s modern era.

4. Jordan Ayew – 305 appearances

Ghanaian forward Jordan Ayew has built a lengthy Premier League career through hard work, versatility and consistent service to several clubs.

He arrived in English football with Aston Villa in 2015 after developing his reputation in France. He later played for Swansea City and Crystal Palace before joining Leicester City.

Ayew became a regular in Crystal Palace’s attack, often working across the forward line and helping the team retain possession under pressure.

He has scored 42 Premier League goals and supplied 25 assists in 305 appearances.

5. Wilfried Zaha – 305 appearances

Wilfried Zaha remains one of Crystal Palace’s most influential players of the Premier League era.

The Ivory Coast international came through Palace’s academy before joining Manchester United in 2013. He struggled for regular opportunities at Old Trafford and returned to Selhurst Park, where he developed into one of the league’s most dangerous dribblers.

Zaha’s pace, close control and ability to beat defenders made him a constant threat on the counterattack. He played a major role in helping Palace establish themselves in the Premier League.

He recorded 68 goals and 29 assists in 305 appearances. His individual quality and importance to Palace made him one of the competition’s most recognisable African attackers.

6. Shola Ameobi – 298 appearances

Shola Ameobi spent much of his playing career at Newcastle United, becoming a familiar face during the club’s Premier League campaigns.

Born in Nigeria and raised in England, Ameobi came through Newcastle’s academy and made his senior debut in 2000. He remained part of the squad through periods of progress, relegation and promotion.

The former Super Eagles forward was known for his strength, aerial ability and willingness to battle central defenders. He also helped Newcastle return to the Premier League after their relegation in 2009.

Ameobi scored 43 Premier League goals and provided 20 assists in 298 appearances. His long association with Newcastle secured his place in the club’s modern history.

7. Cheikhou Kouyaté – 291 appearances

Senegal international Cheikhou Kouyaté earned his place among the Premier League’s most-capped African players through spells with West Ham United, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest.

He joined West Ham from Anderlecht in 2014 and quickly became an important presence in midfield. His physical strength, aerial ability and defensive work helped him adapt to English football.

Kouyaté moved to Crystal Palace in 2018, where he continued to feature regularly before joining Nottingham Forest in 2022.

He scored 15 Premier League goals and provided 12 assists in 291 appearances. His main contribution came in winning duels, breaking up opposition attacks and protecting the defence.

At international level, Kouyaté helped Senegal win the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021.

8. Riyad Mahrez – 284 appearances

Riyad Mahrez is one of the most successful African players of the Premier League era, having played key roles in title-winning campaigns with Leicester City and Manchester City.

The Algerian winger first attracted widespread attention at Leicester, helping the club win the Premier League against extraordinary odds in 2015-16. His performances earned him the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award.

Mahrez joined Manchester City in 2018 and added several more league titles under Pep Guardiola. His close control, technical ability and habit of cutting inside from the right made him a valuable attacking option.

He scored 82 Premier League goals and supplied 60 assists in 284 appearances. Mahrez also won the FA Cup and League Cup with City before leaving English football in 2023.

His achievements with Leicester and City place him among the most decorated African players to have competed in the Premier League.

9. Jeffrey Schlupp – 280 appearances

Ghanaian international Jeffrey Schlupp enjoyed a long Premier League career with Leicester City and Crystal Palace.

He came through Leicester’s academy and broke into the first team during the club’s rise through English football. He was part of the squad that won the Championship in 2013-14 before helping Leicester claim the Premier League title in 2015-16.

Schlupp joined Crystal Palace in 2017 and became a versatile squad member, capable of playing on the wing, at full-back or in central midfield.

He scored 22 Premier League goals and provided 14 assists in 280 appearances.

10. Abdoulaye Doucouré – 278 appearances

Abdoulaye Doucouré was an influential midfielder in the Premier League, particularly during his time at Watford and Everton.

The Mali-born midfielder developed his career in France before joining Watford in 2016. His energy, powerful running and ability to arrive in the penalty area made him one of the club’s most effective players.

He later moved to Everton, where he played an important role as the club fought to preserve its Premier League status. His work rate and knack for scoring important goals made him valuable during difficult periods.

Doucouré scored 36 Premier League goals and provided 23 assists in 278 appearances.

11. Nwankwo Kanu – 273 appearances

Nwankwo Kanu remains one of Nigeria’s most celebrated footballers and a major figure in the history of African players in English football.

The former Nigeria international joined Arsenal from Inter Milan in 1999 and quickly won over supporters with his technical ability, creativity and composure in front of goal.

Kanu was part of Arsenal’s Premier League and FA Cup double-winning side in 2001-02. He later helped Portsmouth win the FA Cup in 2008, scoring in the final against Cardiff City.

One of his most memorable performances came in 1999, when he scored a hat-trick against Chelsea for Arsenal. He also proved capable of changing games despite often starting on the bench.

Kanu scored 54 Premier League goals and provided 29 assists in 273 appearances.

12. Sadio Mané – 263 appearances

Sadio Mané became one of the Premier League’s most dangerous attackers during his time at Southampton and Liverpool.

The Senegalese forward joined Southampton in 2014 and quickly made an impression with his pace, pressing and direct running. In 2015, he scored three goals in less than three minutes against Aston Villa, setting the record for the fastest hat-trick in Premier League history.

Liverpool signed Mané in 2016, and he became a central figure in Jürgen Klopp’s attack alongside Salah and Roberto Firmino.

Mané scored 112 Premier League goals and provided 38 assists in 263 appearances. He won the title with Liverpool in 2019-20 and shared the Golden Boot in 2018-19 with Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

13. Idrissa Gana Guèye – 254 appearances

Senegal midfielder Idrissa Gana Guèye earned a reputation as one of the Premier League’s most effective ball-winning midfielders.

He arrived in England with Aston Villa in 2015 before joining Everton a year later. His ability to intercept passes, cover ground and break up opposition attacks quickly made him an important player.

Guèye later moved to Paris Saint-Germain before returning to Everton in 2022. His second spell at the club reinforced his value as a defensive midfielder.

He has scored nine Premier League goals and provided 12 assists in 254 appearances. Those figures do not fully capture his contribution, as much of his work involves winning possession, protecting the defence and helping his team regain control of midfield.

Guèye also helped Senegal win the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021.

14. Didier Drogba – 254 appearances

Didier Drogba’s place among the Premier League’s greatest African players rests on his goals, trophies and performances on the biggest occasions.

The Ivory Coast striker joined Chelsea from Marseille in 2004 and quickly became one of the most difficult centre-forwards to defend against. His strength, aerial ability and powerful finishing made him a key figure in the club’s success under José Mourinho.

Drogba won four Premier League titles with Chelsea. He also scored in four FA Cup finals, winning all four, and played a central role in the club’s 2012 Champions League triumph.

His defining moment came in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich. Drogba scored a late equaliser before converting the decisive penalty in the shootout to give Chelsea their first European Cup.

He recorded 104 Premier League goals and 54 assists in 254 appearances.

15. Yakubu Aiyegbeni – 252 appearances

Yakubu Aiyegbeni was one of Nigeria’s most reliable Premier League goalscorers during the 2000s.

The striker made his name in England with Portsmouth after joining from Maccabi Haifa. His physical presence, intelligent movement and finishing made him a regular source of goals.

Yakubu later played for Middlesbrough, Everton and Blackburn Rovers, finding the net for different teams and under different tactical systems.

He scored 95 Premier League goals, the most of any Nigerian, and provided 26 assists in 252 appearances. His record included several productive seasons, particularly at Everton, where he showed he could lead the line against strong opposition.

Yakubu’s achievements established him as one of Nigeria’s most successful Premier League forwards, alongside Kanu and, later, Iwobi.

16. John Obi Mikel – 249 appearances

John Obi Mikel built his Premier League reputation through discipline, tactical intelligence and his ability to control the midfield.

The Nigerian joined Chelsea in 2006 and spent 11 years at Stamford Bridge. He became a trusted member of several title-winning squads under managers including José Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Antonio Conte.

Mikel’s main job was to protect the defence, retain possession and provide balance in midfield. His attacking numbers were modest, but his composure under pressure and ability to help control matches made him a valuable squad member.

He won two Premier League titles with Chelsea, as well as the Champions League in 2012 and the Europa League in 2013.

Mikel made 249 Premier League appearances, scoring once and providing 10 assists.

17. El Hadji Diouf – 243 appearances

Senegal forward El Hadji Diouf became a prominent figure in English football after impressing at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

He joined Liverpool from Lens in 2002 but struggled to reproduce his international form consistently at Anfield. He subsequently played for Bolton Wanderers, Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers.

Diouf was known for his aggression, pace and ability to operate across the forward line. His strongest Premier League spell came at Bolton, where he became an important attacking option under Sam Allardyce.

He recorded 28 Premier League goals and 25 assists in 243 appearances.

18. Emmanuel Adebayor – 242 appearances

Emmanuel Adebayor played for several major English clubs during his Premier League career, including Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace.

The Togo striker joined Arsenal from Monaco in 2006 and developed into one of the league’s leading forwards. His movement, aerial ability and finishing helped him score regularly, including 30 goals across all competitions in 2007-08.

Adebayor later moved to Manchester City before spending time on loan at Real Madrid and Tottenham. He also enjoyed a productive spell at Spurs, where his physical strength and technical ability suited the team’s attacking style.

He scored 97 Premier League goals and provided 36 assists in 242 appearances.

His scoring record and spells at several leading clubs made him Togo’s most successful player in English football.

19. Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 239 appearances

Aaron Wan-Bissaka has made his name in the Premier League through his defensive ability rather than his goalscoring.

Born in England to Congolese parents, the right-back began his senior career at Crystal Palace, where his one-on-one defending quickly attracted attention. His tackling and ability to recover possession earned him a move to Manchester United in 2019.

Wan-Bissaka played regularly at Old Trafford over several seasons before joining West Ham United, continuing his career in the Premier League.

Currently on loan at Aston Villa from West Ham, the DR Congo international has made 239 appearances, scoring four goals and providing 20 assists.

20. Mohamed Diamé – 239 appearances

Mohamed Diamé completes the list after making 239 Premier League appearances for Wigan Athletic, West Ham United, Hull City and Newcastle United.

The Senegalese midfielder arrived in English football with Wigan in 2009 and became known for his strength, stamina and ability to carry the ball through midfield.

He helped Wigan win the FA Cup in 2013, when they defeated Manchester City in the final. Diamé later played for West Ham and Hull City before joining Newcastle, where he helped the club secure promotion to the Premier League in 2017.

He scored 18 Premier League goals and provided four assists in 239 appearances.