Super Eagles: Lookman, Boniface lead Nigeria stars with biggest market value drops in 2025-26

The 2025-26 season proved difficult for several Super Eagles stars across Europe’s top leagues, with injuries, failed transfers, poor form and reduced playing time causing major drops in their Transfermarkt valuations, Afrik-Foot reports.

While Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze recorded slight increases in value, a number of key Super Eagles players saw their market prices tumble significantly. The combined effect of those declines was reflected in Nigeria’s overall squad valuation, which dropped to €172.05 million.

As a result, the Super Eagles slipped to seventh place among Africa’s most valuable national teams, falling outside the continent’s top five despite having several players competing at elite European clubs.

Among the biggest losers were Victor Boniface and Ademola Lookman whose difficult campaigns heavily affected their market standing.

Which Super Eagles stars suffered value declined?

Victor Boniface: Failed transfer and injury nightmare trigger €40m collapse

No Nigerian player suffered a bigger valuation crash than Victor Boniface. The striker started the period valued at around €40 million and had previously reached a career-high of €45 million. However, his market value plunged to just €5 million after a disastrous campaign.

The decline began when a proposed summer move to AC Milan broke down after concerns emerged during his medical assessment. Instead of completing a high-profile switch to Italy, Boniface remained at Bayer Leverkusen before joining Werder Bremen on loan in September 2025.

The move was supposed to help him rediscover form and fitness, but the opposite happened. Boniface failed to score a single goal in 11 Bundesliga appearances. He managed only two assists and accumulated just 332 minutes of football, spending most matches as a substitute.

His struggles worsened when recurring knee problems resurfaced. In January, he underwent major knee surgery, ending his season and effectively wiping away most of his market value.

Ademola Lookman: Atalanta turmoil costs CAF Player of the Year

Ademola Lookman entered the season as one of Africa’s most valuable footballers. After helping Atalanta win the UEFA Europa League, claiming the CAF Player of the Year award and finishing 14th in the Ballon d’Or rankings, the winger’s value climbed to €60 million.

A few months later, it had fallen to €40 million. The major reason was a sharp decline in production during the first half of the season. After delivering 20 goals and seven assists across all competitions in 2024-25, Lookman managed only three goals and two assists in 19 matches before leaving Bergamo.

Off the pitch, tensions also grew. A proposed move to Inter Milan failed to materialise, leaving the Nigerian international frustrated. He reportedly submitted a transfer request and his relationship with the club hierarchy became strained.

His situation worsened during managerial changes at Atalanta, and he briefly found himself outside matchday squads.

With his form dipping and his desire to leave growing stronger, Atalanta lowered their asking price before eventually agreeing to a transfer package worth around €40 million to Atletico Madrid in February 2026.

Although Lookman has started rebuilding his reputation in Spain, the difficult months in Italy significantly reduced his valuation.

Taiwo Awoniyi: Goal drought and bench role hurt valuation

Taiwo Awoniyi’s market value has been on a downward trend since reaching a peak of €30 million in October 2023. By mid-2026, the Nottingham Forest striker’s value had fallen to €8 million from €16 million a year earlier.

The biggest factor was his prolonged lack of goals. Awoniyi scored only once in 26 Premier League appearances and endured an 11-match league goal drought. Those numbers contrasted sharply with the form that once made him one of Forest’s most important attacking players.

His struggles opened the door for Chris Wood to become the club’s first-choice striker. As Wood delivered goals consistently, Awoniyi’s role diminished. He played only 396 league minutes throughout the campaign, averaging approximately 15 minutes per appearance.

Limited opportunities also affected his overall output. He finished the season without an assist and struggled to influence matches consistently, leading to another sharp fall in market value.

Terem Moffi: Off-field crisis take their toll

Terem Moffi’s decline began long before the 2025-26 season. In July 2024, the striker suffered a serious ACL injury during pre-season training with Nice. The setback kept him sidelined for 243 days and caused him to miss 37 matches.

When he returned, he struggled to regain his previous level. Moffi scored only two Ligue 1 goals in 10 appearances during the first half of the 2025-26 season, a far cry from the performances that once made him one of France’s most dangerous forwards.

His season then took another dramatic turn. Following Nice’s 3-1 defeat to Lorient on November 30, 2025, angry supporters confronted players as they arrived back from the match. The incident reportedly affected Moffi severely, leading to a period away from football. Relations with the club deteriorated afterwards, and the Nigerian forward pushed for an exit.

In January 2026, he joined FC Porto on loan in an attempt to revive his career. The optional purchase clause was set at €8 million, highlighting how far his valuation had fallen from its previous €25 million peak.

Wilfred Ndidi: Former €60m midfielder now available for transfer

Wilfred Ndidi remains one of the most dramatic examples of a long-term market value decline among Nigerian players.

The midfielder was once valued at €60 million during his best years at Leicester City. However, injuries, declining physical metrics and Leicester’s relegation significantly damaged his valuation.

By the time he joined Besiktas in August 2025, his value had already dropped sharply. The 2025-26 season did little to reverse that trend.

Ndidi made 25 Turkish Super Lig appearances and scored two goals, but Besiktas endured a disappointing campaign. Following managerial changes and a planned squad rebuild, the Nigerian midfielder has been deemed surplus to requirements.

The Istanbul club subsequently placed him on the transfer list during the summer of 2026, with an asking price of around €10 million. His current valuation stands at €8 million, a huge contrast to the €60 million figure he commanded during his Leicester City peak years.