Following the latest data update from Transfermarkt, Africa’s football elite has a new look.
The top ten most valuable players on the continent tell a story of shifting power; a mix of old brilliance, rising stars, and the steady march of new-generation African excellence.
Where once Nigerians dominated, the pendulum has swung. Ademola Lookman (€40m) and Victor Boniface (€40m) now find themselves outside the elite ten, while Fulham’s Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi (€28m each) sit even further down.
There are Moroccan wizards, a Ghanaian trickster, and a Cameroonian pair rewriting expectations.
Here’s the definitive countdown from number ten to the undisputed king of Africa’s football economy.
Africa’s Top 10 Most Valuable Players
10. Serhou Guirassy — €45 million (Borussia Dortmund & Guinea)
Guirassy is a goal machine who has quietly become one of Europe’s most consistent forwards.
The Guinean striker remains valued at €45 million, his career high, despite a more modest start to the new Bundesliga season.
After scoring plenty for Borussia Dortmund last season, his start to the new campaign hasn’t yielded quite the same fireworks: four goals in seven games so far. Yet, that number is hardly a disaster. He’s still lethal, still intelligent in his movement, and still the heartbeat of Guinea’s attack.
The only cloud? Guinea’s failure to qualify for the World Cup, which may have frozen his valuation. But at 29, and with AFCON 2025 in Morocco looming, Guirassy will relish another chance to remind scouts why his name belongs in Europe’s top-tier conversation.
9. Mohamed Salah — €45 million (Liverpool & Egypt)
For years, Mohamed Salah was the face of African football. From Puskás Award winner to Champions League hero, his legacy is already written. But even kings must concede to time.
Now 33, Salah’s value has dropped from €55m last year to €45m, a far cry from his €150m peak in 2018. Liverpool’s difficult start to the season, with four consecutive losses in October, hasn’t helped. Four goals and three assists in 13 appearances are decent by normal standards, but Salah isn’t normal.
Still, the Egyptian remains a national hero. His goals helped the Pharaohs reach both the 2026 World Cup and AFCON, and his leadership continues to inspire. His market value may have shrunk, but his stature in African football history remains colossal.
8. Nicolas Jackson — €50 million (Bayern Munich & Senegal)
Nicolas Jackson’s career has taken another twist. The Chelsea forward, now on loan at Bayern Munich, has seen his value dip slightly from €55m to €50m after a stuttering start in Germany.
No goals yet in six Bundesliga matches would worry most strikers but Jackson’s story has always been about patience. In the Champions League, he’s reminded everyone of his quality with two goals and an assist in three games.
At 24, he’s got time to adjust, sharpen his finishing, and prove he belongs at Bayern. With Harry Kane ahead of him, Jackson is learning from one of the best and if he gets it right, he could soon be back among Africa’s top five.
7. Mohammed Kudus — €55 million (Tottenham Hotspur & Ghana)
Mohammed Kudus’ rise has been rapid and richly deserved. Having moved from West Ham to Tottenham Hotspur this summer, the Ghanaian dynamo has already justified his €55 million valuation.
One goal and five assists in his first nine Premier League games show his creativity and composure. Kudus is Tottenham’s new livewire; fearless on the ball, technically sharp, and tactically adaptable.
He’s just as crucial for Ghana. After helping the Black Stars bounce back to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, Kudus’ stock has surged. Once valued at €45m, he’s now firmly part of Africa’s new golden generation.
6. Antoine Semenyo — €55 million (Bournemouth & Ghana)
Antoine Semenyo’s transformation this season has been electric.
The Bournemouth forward has exploded into one of the Premier League’s brightest stars, helping his side to second place behind Arsenal.
Six goals and three assists in nine games tell only half the story. Semenyo’s speed, strength, and directness have terrified defences.
His confidence is infectious, his decision-making vastly improved, and his form for Ghana, where he played a vital role in World Cup qualification, has mirrored his club brilliance.
From a €40m valuation in May to a new high of €55m, the 25-year-old is rewriting expectations for African forwards. Few are rising faster.
5. Carlos Baleba — €60 million (Brighton & Cameroon)
Brighton have made a habit of finding gems, and Carlos Baleba might just be their crown jewel.
The 21-year-old Cameroonian has developed into one of Europe’s finest young defensive midfielders — a blend of athleticism, calmness, and tactical awareness.
Bought for €27m in 2023, his value has more than doubled to €60m. That’s not just good business; that’s exceptional development.
Baleba’s ability to dictate tempo, shield the backline, and carry the ball through pressure has made him a Premier League standout. Big clubs are already circling and Brighton, ever the shrewd operators, will likely demand far more than his listed value.
4. Bryan Mbeumo — €70 million (Manchester United & Cameroon)
If you’re looking for consistency and versatility, Bryan Mbeumo delivers both in abundance.
The 26-year-old Cameroonian completed a €75m summer move from Brentford to Manchester United, instantly becoming one of the Red Devils’ most important players.
Six goal contributions in ten games points to his seamless adaptation to life at Old Trafford. Comfortable as a second striker, main forward, or left winger, Mbeumo has brought directness and composure to a United attack that had been crying out for both.
He’s now valued at €70m — his highest ever. And given his upward trajectory, he could well break the €80m mark before long.
3. Omar Marmoush — €75 million (Manchester City & Egypt)
Egypt’s Omar Marmoush has arrived at the top table. The 26-year-old forward, now at Manchester City, remains valued at €75m, a career-high reached earlier this year.
It hasn’t been a bright start to the season for Marmoush or City, who have stumbled in the Premier League.
Yet his value holds firm, reflecting both his quality and his importance to Pep Guardiola’s plans.
For Egypt, Marmoush was pivotal in their World Cup qualification campaign. Quick, clever, and tactically mature, he’s part of a new wave of Egyptian stars taking the baton from Salah. He just needs goals to match his price tag.
2. Victor Osimhen — €75 million (Galatasaray & Nigeria)
For several years, Victor Osimhen reigned supreme. The Nigerian striker was the face of Napoli’s resurgence and Africa’s biggest footballing brand, peaking at an astonishing €120m in 2023.
Now at Galatasaray, following a permanent move after an impressive loan spell, Osimhen’s valuation has rebounded to €75m after a dip earlier this year.
With six goals already for Galatasaray, including three in two Champions League outings, and three for Nigeria in the October World Cup qualifiers, the 26-year-old is proving his class again.
He remains a phenomenon: relentless, fearless, and utterly dependable. Another strong AFCON showing could propel him back toward the €100m bracket, especially if the Premier League or La Liga come calling.
1. Achraf Hakimi — €80 million (Paris Saint-Germain & Morocco)
The crown stays in North Africa. Achraf Hakimi, Morocco’s star and PSG’s all-action right-back, remains Africa’s most valuable player at €80 million.
It’s a rare honour for a defender, but Hakimi is no ordinary fullback. His explosive pace, attacking threat, and defensive maturity have made him one of the best in the world. He’s already scored four goals and provided five assists in 19 appearances this term, continuing the form that helped PSG win their first-ever Champions League earlier this year.
For Morocco, he remains a talisman; the leader who helped his nation reach the World Cup semi-finals in 2022 and qualify early for the next edition. If he adds an AFCON or World Cup title to his resume, that €100m mark might just be within reach.
