Top 10 most expensive Nigerian footballers of all time

Over the years, Nigerian footballers have commanded significant transfer fees, moving across Europe’s elite leagues for staggering sums. 

While some justified their price tags with world-class performances, others struggled under the weight of expectation.

Using cumulative transfer fees as the benchmark, here are the 10 most expensive Nigerian footballers of all time in descending order. (All transfer valuations sourced from Transfermarkt)

Top 10 most expensive Nigerian footballers

Rank	Player	Position	Cumulative fees
1	Victor Osimhen	Striker	€183.3m
2	Ademola Lookman	Winger	€80.4m
3	George Ilenikhena	Striker	€57.75m
4	Odion Ighalo	Striker	€56.65m
5	Alex Iwobi	Attacking midfielder	€56.10m
6	Calvin Bassey	Defender	€45.5m
7	Obafemi Martins	Striker	€42.59m
8	Umar Sadiq	Striker	€41.35m
9	Taiwo Awoniyi	Striker	€41.15m
10	Terem Moffi	Striker	€36.35m

10. Terem Moffi – €36.35m

Moffi’s displays for Lithuanian club Žalgiris paved the way for a transfer to Belgium, a crucial stepping stone to mainstream European football.

His impressive form at Lorient in France culminated in a significant move to OGC Nice, where Moffi established himself as one of the finest Nigerian players to have graced Ligue 1, and his subsequent loan chapters and 2026 summer move to Hamburg lifted his cumulative career transfer fees to over €36m.

• Nice → Hamburger SV (€2m, August 2026)
• Nice → FC Porto (Loan)
• Lorient → OGC Nice (€22.5m, July 2023)
• Lorient → OGC Nice (Loan Fee: €2.5m, January 2023)
• Kortrijk → Lorient (€8m, 2020)
• FK Riteriai → Kortrijk (€1.4m, 2020)

9. Taiwo Awoniyi – €41.15m

Awoniyi’s initial move to Liverpool, hampered by work permit issues, triggered a series of European loans.

A pivotal period at Union Berlin culminated in a permanent transfer and standout performances, paving the way for his key role at Nottingham Forest, where his goals proved crucial for Premier League survival.

His August 2026 move to newly promoted Coventry City for a €10.5m fee lifted his cumulative career transfer fees to over €40m.

• Nottingham Forest → Coventry City (€10.5m, 2026)
• Union Berlin → Nottingham Forest (€20.5m, 2022)
• Liverpool → Union Berlin (€8.55m, July 2021)
• Liverpool → Union Berlin (Loan)
• Liverpool → Mainz 05 (Loan fee: €500k)
• Liverpool → Royal Excel Mouscron (Loan)
• Liverpool → KAA Gent (Loan)
• Liverpool → Royal Excel Mouscron (Loan Fee)
• Liverpool → NEC Nijmegen (Loan)
• Liverpool → FSV Frankfurt (Loan)
• Imperial Soccer Academy → Liverpool (€1.1m, 2015)

8 Umar Sadiq – €41.35m

Umar Sadiq’s performances in the youth ranks of Roma and his prolific spell at Partizan led to his move to Almería.

His transfer to Real Sociedad further highlighted his value and, while it proved to be a difficult experience, the 29-year-old rebuilt his career on loan at Valencia across the second half of 2024/25 before joining permanently in January 2026.

• Real Sociedad → Valencia (Permanent Fee: €5m, 2026)
• Real Sociedad → Valencia (Loan Fee: €1.5m, January 2025)
• Almería → Real Sociedad (€20m, 2022)
• Partizan → Almería (€9m, 2020)
• Roma → Partizan (€2m, January 2020)
• Roma → Partizan (Loan Fee: €100k, July 2019)
• Roma → Perugia (Loan)
• Roma → Rangers (Loan)
• Roma → NAC Breda (Loan)
• Roma → Torino (Loan)
• Roma → Bologna (Loan)
• Spezia → Roma (€2.5m, 2016)
• Spezia → Roma (Loan Fee:€250k)

7. Obafemi Martins – €42.99m

Like a seasoned traveller, Nigerian forward Obafemi Martins charted a course through football’s vast world, leaving his mark on the fields of Europe, America, and Asia. 

• Shanghai Shenhua → Wuhan FC (Free Transfer, 2020)  
• Seattle Sounders FC → Shanghai Shenhua (€2.70m, 2016)  
• Levante → Seattle Sounders FC (€3.64m, 2013)  
• Rubin Kazan → Levante (Free Transfer, 2012)  
• Rubin Kazan → Birmingham City (Loan Fee: €400k, 2011)  
• VfL Wolfsburg → Rubin Kazan (€9.00m, 2010)  
• Newcastle United → VfL Wolfsburg (€10.50m, 2009)
• Inter Milan → Newcastle United (€16.00m, 2006)
• Reggiana U19 → Inter Milan (€750k, 2001)  
• FC Ebedei → Reggiana U19 (Free Transfer, 2000)  

6. Calvin Bassey – €45.5m 

Calvin Bassey stands out as the only defender on this list, and it’s no surprise. His journey from Leicester City’s youth setup to Fulham in the present day is nothing short of inspiring. At Rangers, he evolved from a promising talent into a key player, earning a record-breaking move to Ajax. 

• Ajax → Fulham (€22.50m, 2023)
• Rangers → Ajax (€23m, 2022)
• Leicester City → Rangers (Free, 2020)

5. Alex Iwobi – €56.10m

Alex Iwobi‘s career has spanned just three clubs, all permanent transfers, a rarity in modern football.

The AFCON silver medalist, nurtured from childhood within Arsenal’s academy, has matured into one of the Premier League’s most influential attackers at high-flying Fulham and is the Nigerian with the most appearances in the English Premier League.

• Everton → Fulham (€25.70m, 2023)
• Arsenal → Everton (€30.40m, 2019)

4. Odion Ighalo – €56.65m

Odion Ighalo’s journey began in Nigeria before moving to Europe with Lyn, Udinese, Granada and Watford, where he shone at Vicarage Road.

A lucrative switch to China followed before fulfilling a dream loan at Manchester United, and further chapters in Saudi Arabia have added further layers to his cumulative transfer valuation.

The former Super Eagles striker’s contract at Al-Wehda expired in August 2025, and he has been a free agent ever since.

• Al-Wehda → Free agent (Contract expired, 2025)
• Al-Hilal → Al-Wehda (Free Transfer, 2023)
• Al-Shabab → Al-Hilal (€2.90m, 2022)
• Shanghai Shenhua → Al-Shabab (€2.50m, 2021)
• Shanghai Shenhua → Manchester United (Loan Fee: €12m, January 2020 including extension)
• Changchun Yatai → Shanghai Shenhua (€5.85m, 2019)
• Watford → Changchun Yatai (€23.30m, 2017)
• Udinese → Watford (€8.00m, 2014)
• Lyn → Udinese (€1.90m, 2008)
• Julius Berger → Lyn

3. George Ilenikhena — €57.75m

George Ilenikhena has emerged as the newest name in this list, and one of the fastest-rising.

The 20-year-old Lagos-born forward moved from Amiens to Royal Antwerp in 2022, then to AS Monaco in 2024, and completed the most expensive transfer of any Nigerian teenager in history when Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad signed him for €33m in February 2026. He remains uncapped at the Super Eagles senior level.

• Monaco → Al-Ittihad (€33m, 2026)
• Antwerp → Monaco (€18.75m, 2024)
• Amiens → Antwerp (€6m, 2022)

2. Ademola Lookman – €80.4m

2024 CAF Player of the Year Ademola Lookman, who first made waves with a high-profile move to RB Leipzig from Everton, secured his most lucrative transfer yet in January 2026 when Atlético Madrid signed him from Atalanta for €35m plus €5m in potential add-ons.

That switch alone lifted his cumulative career transfer fees past €80m and pushed him from sixth to second on the all-time list of most expensive Nigerian footballers.

• Atalanta → Atlético Madrid (€40m, 2026)
• RB Leipzig → Atalanta (€9.35m, 2022)
• Everton → RB Leipzig (€18m, 2019)
• Charlton Athletic → Everton (€8.80m, 2017)

Fulham paid €2m to loan Lookman from RB Leipzig in 2020, while RB Leipzig paid €500k to loan the Nigerian in 2018.

1. Victor Osimhen – €183.3m

Victor Osimhen‘s rise to the top of Nigerian football is nothing short of meteoric. From his early days at Ultimate Strikers Academy to his time at Galatasaray, Osimhen has become a global icon and stands as the current most expensive Nigerian footballer ever, as well as Africa’s most expensive footballer ever.

• Napoli → Galatasaray (€75m, 2025)
• Lille → Napoli (€77.50m, 2020)
• Charleroi → Lille (€22.40m, 2019)
• Wolfsburg → Charleroi (€3.50m loan-to-permanent, 2018-19)
• Ultimate Strikers Academy → Wolfsburg (€3.50m, 2017)