The Saudi pro league has been the destination for many of these African footballers, offering them a platform to showcase their skills.
As the sport continues to grow in popularity, African players are now featuring prominently in some of the world’s biggest clubs across various leagues.
This global reach has also seen them benefit from substantially improved wages compared to the past.
Saudi Pro league
In recent years, the football world has seen a remarkable increase in massive payouts, driven by growing investment and involvement from Gulf countries.
For instance, Sadio Mane’s move to Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, placed him as one of the highest earning African footballers..
Middle Eastern clubs, particularly those in the Saudi Pro League, have successfully attracted numerous players of African descent with lucrative offers, making some of them among the highest-paid footballers globally.
According to the latest Forbes list of the top 10 highest-paid footballers, Africa is proudly represented by Mohamed Salah of Egypt, who plays for Liverpool, and Sadio Mané of Senegal, currently plying his trade at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
Notably, four of the Forbes top 10 highest-paid footballers now ply their trade in Saudi Arabia, reflecting the league’s growing financial influence.
In addition to Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané, other notable African stars like Riyad Mahrez and Kalidou Koulibaly are also earning impressive weekly wages in Saudi Arabia.
Their presence underscores the Saudi Pro League’s success in attracting elite African talent with lucrative contracts.
The table below highlights the top five highest-paid African players in the Saudi Pro League.
Rank | Name | Club | Weekly Wage | Country |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Riyad Mahrez |
Al-Ahli |
£858,944 |
Algeria |
2 |
Sadio Mane |
Al-Nassr |
£658,194 |
Senegal |
3 |
Kalidou Koulibaly |
Al-Hilal |
£570,984 |
Senegal |
4 |
Seko Fofana |
Al-Nassr |
£350,000 |
Ivory Coast |
5 |
Franck Kessie |
Al-Ahli |
£230,368 |
Ivory Coast |