African football continues to produce some of the biggest stars in world football, with several of the continent’s leading players earning substantial salaries at major clubs across Europe and Saudi Arabia.
The financial landscape has also changed significantly in recent years. The Saudi Pro League has attracted established African internationals with lucrative contracts, while European clubs continue to offer major wages to players performing at the highest level.
One significant change in 2026 is the move of Egyptian superstar Mohamed Salah from Liverpool to Trabzonspor. After nine seasons at Anfield, Salah joined the Turkish club on a two-year contract in August 2026. Trabzonspor’s official disclosure confirmed a guaranteed package worth €17 million per season.
Based on reported salary figures and contractual details for 2026, here are 10 of the highest-paid African footballers.
1. Riyad Mahrez – Algeria
Club: Al-Ahli
Reported weekly salary: £870,192
Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez remains among the highest-paid African footballers in 2026.
The former Leicester City and Manchester City star joined Al-Ahli after a highly successful career in England. His achievements include Premier League titles with Manchester City and the UEFA Champions League.
His lucrative Saudi Arabian contract has placed him among the continent’s biggest earners.
2. Sadio Mane – Senegal
Club: Al-Nassr
Reported weekly salary: £666,814
Senegalese forward Sadio Mane is another major African star earning a substantial salary in the Saudi Pro League.
Mane reportedly earns around £666,814 per week at Al-Nassr. Before moving to Saudi Arabia, he enjoyed an outstanding spell at Liverpool, where he won the Premier League and Champions League.
He also remains one of Senegal’s most decorated and recognisable footballers.
3. Kalidou Koulibaly – Senegal
Club: Al-Hilal
Reported weekly salary: £578,461
Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly is also among Africa’s highest-paid players.
The experienced centre-back built his reputation during a long spell at Napoli before joining Chelsea and later moving to Al-Hilal.
His reported earnings reflect the significant salaries available to established international players in Saudi Arabia.
4. Mohamed Salah – Egypt
Club: Trabzonspor
Reported annual salary/package: €17 million per season
Mohamed Salah’s inclusion requires an important update for 2026. The Egyptian forward is no longer a Liverpool player after ending his nine-year spell with the Premier League club.
Salah joined Turkish Super Lig side Trabzonspor in August 2026 on a two-year contract. The club confirmed that his guaranteed compensation is €17 million per season. This consists of a €10 million annual salary and a €7 million signing payment for each season.
The contract also contains conditional bonuses, while Salah is entitled to 20% of proceeds from products sold under his name through the club’s retail operations.
Salah’s move came after a remarkable Liverpool career in which he won two Premier League titles, the Champions League and several other major trophies. Liverpool recorded 255 goals in 435 appearances for him when announcing his departure in March 2026.
5. Victor Osimhen – Nigeria
Club: Galatasaray
Reported weekly salary: About £312,569
Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen remains one of the highest-paid African players in 2026.
The forward’s reputation grew considerably during his time at Napoli, where he played a major role in the club’s Serie A title triumph.
His permanent move to Galatasaray further strengthened his position among Africa’s highest earners. His goalscoring ability and international reputation have made him one of the most valuable Nigerian players in world football.
6. Omar Marmoush – Egypt
Club: Manchester City
Reported weekly salary: £295,000
Egyptian attacker Omar Marmoush has established himself among the continent’s leading earners following his move to Manchester City.
The forward previously impressed in Germany before making the move to the Premier League. His pace, movement and versatility have made him an important attacking option.
His reported salary of around £295,000 per week places him firmly among Africa’s highest-paid players.
7. Franck Kessie – Ivory Coast
Club: Al-Ahli
Reported weekly salary: £233,385
Ivory Coast midfielder Franck Kessie is another African international benefiting from the financial power of the Saudi Pro League.
Kessie previously played for AC Milan and Barcelona before joining Al-Ahli. He is known for his physical presence, defensive contribution and ability to score from midfield.
His reported weekly earnings put him among the leading African football salaries in 2026.
8. Achraf Hakimi – Morocco
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Reported weekly salary: £227,383
Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi remains one of the highest-paid African players in European football.
The Paris Saint-Germain full-back has previously played for Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan. His attacking ability and pace have helped establish him as one of the leading full-backs in world football.
Hakimi has also played an important role for Morocco, including during the country’s historic run at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
9. Edouard Mendy – Senegal
Club: Al-Ahli
Reported weekly salary: About £200,000
Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy is also among the continent’s highest earners.
Mendy rose to prominence in European football after joining Chelsea, where he won the UEFA Champions League.
His subsequent move to Al-Ahli placed him among the well-paid African internationals competing in Saudi Arabia.
10. Iñaki Williams – Ghana
Club: Athletic Bilbao
Reported weekly salary: £180,707
Ghana international Iñaki Williams completes the list.
The Athletic Bilbao forward has spent the majority of his professional career with the Spanish club and has become one of its key attacking players.
Williams’ long association with Athletic Bilbao makes his career particularly notable because of the club’s distinctive recruitment policy focused on players with links to the Basque region.
African footballers continue to command major salaries
The top African players salaries in 2026 demonstrate the growing financial influence of African footballers around the world.
Saudi Arabia continues to feature prominently, with players such as Mahrez, Mane, Koulibaly, Kessie and Mendy earning significant contracts. Meanwhile, Salah’s move to Trabzonspor has added another major name to the list of highly paid African players outside Europe’s traditional top five leagues.
Salah’s new contract is particularly notable because Trabzonspor’s official disclosure places his guaranteed annual package at €17 million, including his salary and signing payment. The agreement also contains performance bonuses and a commercial arrangement linked to merchandise bearing his name.
The salary figures in this list should, however, be treated as reported estimates unless they have been officially disclosed by the clubs. Football contracts can include bonuses, signing payments, image rights, loyalty payments and commercial arrangements that make direct comparisons difficult.
As African players continue to attract major clubs and commercial opportunities around the world, their growing salaries underline their increasing importance to the global football economy.
