This list has the highest paid Nigerian footballers in 2026, including top Super Eagles stars, their weekly wages, salaries in Europe, and the richest players’ rankings. We’ll explore Osimhen, Boniface, Iwobi, Chukwueze, Ndidi, earnings, contracts, and their full salary breakdowns across top leagues.
Highest Paid Nigerian Footballers 2026 & Their Club Salaries
You won’t believe who the highest-paid Nigerian footballers in 2026 are. Let me leave you to peruse the Nigerian football rich list below.
Terem Moffi (OGC Nice) €1.7–2.5 Million
He started at Kortrijk in Belgium, where he played in a low-wage development setting typical of mid-table Belgian clubs.
Moffi moved to Lorient in France, where he became a first-choice striker in Ligue 1 and increased his transfer value through regular goals and consistent starts.
He then joined OGC Nice, initially on loan before the move became permanent. At Nice, his total pay is estimated at €1.7 million to €2.5 million per year, depending on bonuses and performance clauses. That equates to about €32,000 to €48,000 per week before tax. Though not much, Terem Moffi is still one of the highest-paid Nigerian footballers.
His contract runs long-term into the late 2020s, which secures his transfer value and reduces short-term mobility.
His earnings include base salary plus goal bonuses, appearance fees, team qualification bonuses and image rights payments, which can raise total income by 10 to 30 percent.
He plays for Nigeria in AFCON and World Cup qualifiers, and earns additional income from boot deals and Nigeria-focused sponsorships.
Kelechi Iheanacho (Celtic) €1–2 Million
His breakthrough at the FIFA U-17 World Cup earned him a move to Manchester City.
Leicester City FC brought the highest wages of his career. Reports placed his earnings between £70,000 and £90,000 weekly, with an annual income above £4 million before tax. Sponsorships added further revenue, while some estimates placed his net worth above £28 million.
A free transfer to Sevilla FC followed in 2024. Output in Spain declined, leading to a loan spell at Middlesbrough FC.
In September 2025, he signed with Celtic FC until June 2026. Reported wages settled near £30,000 per week, which is equal to roughly €1–2 million yearly before bonuses.
By 2026, injuries limited his availability and reduced his reported market value to around €3 million.
Calvin Bassey (Fulham) €2–3 Million
He came through England’s youth football system and could play both centre-back and left-back.
His breakthrough came at Rangers in Scotland, where he became a first-team regular.
Later, he moved to Ajax in the Netherlands before joining Fulham FC. At Fulham, he mainly plays in central defence on the left side but can also fill in at left-back.
His wages at Fulham are believed to be around £40,000–£60,000 a week, equal to about €2–3 million a year. He also earns additional income from match appearances, clean sheets, and image rights.
His contract runs for several years, with pay increases linked to games played and performances.
Most of his endorsement income comes from sportswear brands instead of major advertising deals.
Defenders usually earn less than top strikers. Still, left-footed centre-backs who are quick and comfortable on the ball are valued more highly than traditional defenders.
Premier League defenders’ salaries are also among the highest in football, especially compared with most other leagues.
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta) €2.5–3 Million
He came through Charlton Athletic before moving into the Premier League with Everton. A spell at RB Leipzig followed, then loan moves at Fulham and Leicester City.
The switch to Atalanta BC changed his output profile. Lookman settled into a more regular attacking role, adding goals in Serie A and European fixtures, which strengthened his market value.
His salary sits around €2.5–€3 million per year, roughly €48,000–€58,000 per week before tax.
Atalanta’s pay model is controlled and incentive-driven rather than open-ended. Earnings rise mainly through output rather than fixed increases.
Most contracts at the club run between three and five years. Extensions tend to depend on availability and consistent contribution on the pitch.
International duty with Nigeria adds exposure through AFCON and qualifiers. Sponsorships come from sportswear brands and selective commercial partnerships.
Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest) €3–4 Million
He never played a competitive match for Liverpool FC because of work permit rules. He was sent out on loan across Europe instead.
A spell at Mainz 05 was quiet. He did not play much, and injuries broke up his rhythm.
Things changed at Union Berlin. He played regularly, scored more often, and became the main striker. His transfer value went up after that.
In 2022, he moved to Nottingham Forest following their promotion to the Premier League. He signed a long-term deal reported to run until 2027. His pay increased significantly compared to his Bundesliga earnings.
His wage is estimated at £40,000–£70,000 per week, about €3–4 million a year before bonuses. Additional income comes from goals, appearances, and team targets like staying in the league.
Most of his endorsement income comes from small sportswear deals, not major global brands.
Wilfred Ndidi (Beşiktaş) €4 Million
He began in Nigeria, then moved to Genk in Belgium, where he was recognised for tackles, interceptions, and reading play. This earned him a transfer to Leicester City in the Premier League, where he played as a defensive midfielder focused on stopping attacks and protecting the defence.
He later joined Beşiktaş in Turkey. Defensive midfielders in this role are paid less than attackers because they contribute fewer goals despite their tactical importance.
At Beşiktaş, he earns about €4 million per year, or €75,000–€80,000 per week. He also receives bonuses for appearances, results, and competitions, with possible image rights payments included in the contract.
His deal typically runs three to four years, with some pay linked to performance.
He earns additional income from sponsorships with sportswear companies and African telecom and banking brands, influenced by visibility and national team involvement.
His position limits commercial value compared to attacking players.
Alex Iwobi (Fulham) £4–4.3 Million
He began at Arsenal’s academy. Pay was minimal, typical of youth terms. He drifted between the wing and attacking midfield, not fixed in one role.
Everton F.C. came next. Minutes increased, and wages rose with it. He featured more regularly in midfield rather than being used sparingly.
Fulham F.C. signed him in 2023. The deal placed him on about £80,000–£85,000 a week, roughly £4.0–£4.3 million a year before bonuses. Match appearances, goals, and team results add performance-related uplifts.
Fulham sit below the league’s financial heavyweights, though his salary ranks near the top of their wage structure. Experience has become his main leverage inside the squad.
Now in his late twenties, he is in the phase where contracts peak in value. The current agreement runs for several seasons, securing steady earnings.
Nigeria duty adds visibility during AFCON and qualifiers. Off the pitch, sponsorships and sportswear deals contribute additional income.
Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan) €5 Million+
Samuel Chukwueze came through Villarreal’s academy and reached the first team. He established himself as a winger in La Liga and European matches.
He is a regular in Nigeria’s Super Eagles squad. AFCON tournaments, World Cup qualifiers, and senior internationals feature him consistently.
In 2023, he joined AC Milan for €20–28 million, depending on bonuses. His contract runs until 2028.
His salary exceeds €5 million per year before tax. Weekly pay is commonly reported between €95,000 and €130,000.
Bonuses, image rights, and Champions League payments increase total earnings.
He earns less than Victor Osimhen. Among Nigerian wingers in Europe, he sits in the higher pay bracket.
Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen) €6–6.5 Million
Victor Boniface was born in 2000 in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria, and represents the Super Eagles.
He started at Real Sapphire Academy in Nigeria before moving to Bodø/Glimt in Norway. His performances earned him a transfer to Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise, where his market value rose sharply.
His breakthrough in Belgium secured a move to Bayer Leverkusen in Germany in a deal worth more than €22 million.
At Leverkusen, Boniface became one of the highest-paid Nigerian footballers, with estimated earnings of €6–6.5 million yearly, or about €115,000–125,000 weekly before tax. His contract includes base salary, goal bonuses, appearance bonuses, and trophy incentives.
He reportedly signed a contract running until 2028.
As a centre-forward, Boniface operates in one of football’s most valuable positions, commanding some of the highest wages in the sport.
Beyond football, he earns through sponsorships, sportswear partnerships, social media influence, and branding opportunities.
Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray) €10–15 Million
Victor Osimhen is a Nigerian football striker from Lagos. He plays for the Nigeria national team, the Super Eagles, and is one of their main attackers.
He currently plays for Galatasaray in Turkey. Osimhen earns about €10–15 million a year. That includes his salary, bonuses for scoring goals and playing matches, and extra money from image rights. This works out to about €190,000–€290,000 each week before tax. See why Osimhen is the highest-paid Nigerian footballer.
He started his career in Nigeria and later played for Wolfsburg, Lille, and Napoli. At Napoli, he became one of Europe’s best strikers before moving to Galatasaray.
He also earns extra money from sponsorship deals with big brands.