Victor Osimhen Leads Nigeria’s Highest-Paid Players in Europe After Mega Deal at Galatasaray
- Victor Osimhen has officially joined Galatasaray on a permanent deal after spending last season on loan
- Osimhen signed a four-year contract, and his salary rivals some of the top European clubs' best-paid players
- The Super Eagles forward retains his spot as the highest-paid Nigerian footballer in European leagues
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Victor Osimhen has completed his permanent move to Galatasaray and signed a mega contract, which makes him one of the best-paid players in Europe.
Osimhen spent last season on loan at the Turkish club, netting 37 goals and eight assists, which prompted the club to sign him permanently.
Source: Getty Images
Galatasaray signed him in a record-breaking €75 million deal and gave him a record €21 million per annum salary, both of which broke Turkish football records.
Legit.ng looks at the top five highest-paid Nigerian footballers after Osimhen joined Galatasaray.
Highest-paid Nigerian footballers
1. Victor Osimhen
According to Galatasaray's official statement, the striker will earn €21 million per year, which is about €403,846 (₦747 million) per week. The salary is a guaranteed €15m per year, €5mil in image rights and €1mil loyalty bonus for every year he plays.
His salary at Napoli was €12mil. He took a pay cut to join Galatasaray on loan last season, during which he earned €6 million net salary. He reportedly rejected a €45 million salary from Al-Hilal.
2. Samuel Chukwueze
According to football salary website Capology, Chukwueze earns a weekly gross salary of ₦175.6mil per week, after joining AC Milan in the summer of 2023, making him the second highest-paid Nigerian player.
He is expected to leave Milan this summer after struggling to break into the first team, though he has impressed Massimiliano Allegri during pre-season. He has been linked to lucrative moves to Saudi Arabia and the Premier League.
3. Alex Iwobi
Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi is Nigeria's third-highest-paid player in Europe with a weekly salary of ₦170.9mil per week. The former England youth international came through Arsenal's academy and spent time at Everton before returning to London.
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Source: Getty Images
4. Kelechi Iheanacho
Iheanacho left Leicester City after seven years last summer. He has had a troubled time on the pitch but earns decent pay at record Europa League winners Sevilla.
He signed a two-year contract in Spain with a weekly salary of ₦164.3 million. He failed to settle in Seville and spent the second half of last season at EFL Championship side Middlesbrough FC.
5. Wilfred Ndidi
Ndidi left Leicester City last summer after the expiration of his contract, but made a U-turn and signed a new three-year deal with a weekly salary of ₦160.3 million per week.
The deal contained a relegation clause worth £9 million. The Foxes went down to the Championship. Turkish club Besiktas are in discussions to sign him.
Galatasaray generate funds from livestreaming Osimhen's flight
Legit.ng previously reported that Galatasaray generated huge revenue from livestreaming Victor Osimhen’s flight from Germany to Istanbul.
The club generated about €500,000 in one of their planned activities to recoup funds to finance his record-breaking transfer fee and salary.
Proofreading by Omoleye Omoruyi, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
