Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has etched his name into football history once again by becoming the country’s most valuable footballer, with two transfer deals totaling over €150 million. The 26-year-old tops the list of Nigeria’s most expensive players following a €75 million move from Napoli to Turkish giants Galatasaray ahead of the 2025/26 season.
Osimhen first made headlines in 2020 with his €78.9 million transfer from French club Lille to Napoli, a deal that still stands as the highest single transfer fee for any Nigerian player. With his latest switch to Galatasaray, he now holds both the first and second spots on the all-time list of Nigerian transfers.
According to Transfermarkt data, here are the top 10 highest-value transfers involving Nigerian footballers:
Top 10 Most Expensive Nigerian Football Transfers
- Victor Osimhen – €78.9m
Lille ➝ Napoli (2020/21) - Victor Osimhen – €75m
Napoli ➝ Galatasaray (2025/26) - Alex Iwobi – €30.4m
Arsenal ➝ Everton (2019/20) - Kelechi Iheanacho – €27.7m
Man City ➝ Leicester City (2017/18) - Alex Iwobi – €25.7m
Everton ➝ Fulham (2023/24) - Odion Ighalo – €23.3m
Watford ➝ Changchun Yatai (2016/17) - Nathan Tella – €23.3m
Southampton ➝ Bayer Leverkusen (2023/24) - Calvin Bassey – €23m
Rangers ➝ Ajax (2022/23) - Victor Boniface – €22.6m
Union SG ➝ Bayer Leverkusen (2023/24) - Terem Moffi – €22.5m
Lorient ➝ OGC Nice (2023/24)
Nigeria’s Rising Market Power
The list underlines Nigeria’s growing influence in the global football market, with seven of the top ten deals taking place after 2020, a clear indication of increased financial faith in Nigerian talent.
Alex Iwobi is the only other player featured twice, reflecting his steady value across the Premier League. Meanwhile, new-generation stars like Boniface, Bassey, Tella, and Moffi continue to raise the profile of Nigerian exports across Europe’s top leagues.
Osimhen’s Impact Beyond the Numbers
Victor Osimhen’s value isn’t just monetary. The striker was pivotal in Napoli’s historic 2022/23 Serie A title run, finishing as the league’s top scorer and helping the club secure its first league trophy in 33 years. During his recent loan spell at Galatasaray, he helped the club to a domestic double before completing a permanent move.
His accolades include being named CAF African Footballer of the Year in 2023, placing 8th in the Ballon d’Or rankings, and becoming the all-time leading African scorer in Serie A.
A Golden Era for Nigerian Footballers
With Nigerian players collectively commanding over €380 million in total transfers, the current era may well be the country’s most commercially successful yet. These deals signal a promising future for Nigerian football both on and off the pitch as the world continues to take notice of the talent coming out of Africa’s most populous nation.
