Most expensive African players of all time: Where does Semenyo rank? Surprise name at No.1

In the world of football, African talent has always been a cornerstone of success for top clubs. Today, Livescore CZ will reveal the list of the 10 most expensive African players in history. Furthermore, we will provide a comprehensive look at the record-breaking transfers involving African stars specifically within the Premier League.

Top 10 most expensive African players of all time

The transfer market has witnessed a significant shift this January. Antoine Semenyo, the 26-year-old winger, recently completed a high-profile move from AFC Bournemouth to Manchester City for a reported fee of £65 million (approximately €72 million). While this move marks a milestone for Ghana, Semenyo is only the fourth most expensive African player on this prestigious list.

The number one spot still belongs to Ivory Coast international Nicolas Pépé. In 2019, Arsenal made headlines by signing him from LOSC Lille for a staggering €80 million. Unfortunately, the move did not go as planned. 

Pépé struggled to adapt to the intensity of English football, contributing limited goals and assists. After several underwhelming seasons, he was labeled one of the worst signings in Premier League history before his contract was terminated in 2023.

Second on the list is Victor Osimhen, who moved from Lille to Napoli in 2020 for €78.9 million. Unlike Pépé, Osimhen became a legend in Italy, leading Napoli to their first Serie A title in over three decades. 

Close behind in third place is Bryan Mbeumo. The Cameroon international joined Manchester United from Brentford for €75 million, setting a record for his nation. Other notable names include Omar Marmoush, who joined Manchester City for €75 million, and Achraf Hakimi, who moved to PSG for €68 million in 2021.

Top 10 most expensive African players:

Nicolas Pépé: Lille to Arsenal (2019) – €80 million

Victor Osimhen: Lille to Napoli (2020) – €78.9 million

Omar Marmoush: Eintracht Frankfurt to Manchester City (2025) – €75 million

Bryan Mbeumo: Brentford to Manchester United (2025) – €75 million

Antoine Semenyo: Bournemouth to Manchester City (2026) – €72 million

Achraf Hakimi: Inter Milan to PSG (2021) – €68 million

Riyad Mahrez: Leicester City to Manchester City (2018) – €67.8 million

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: Dortmund to Arsenal (2018) – €63.7 million

Naby Keita: RB Leipzig to Liverpool (2018) – €60 million

Mohamed Salah: AS Roma to Liverpool (2017) – €42 million

Most expensive African player signings in Premier League history

The Premier League is known for its massive spending, and most expensive African stars were signed by the "Big 6" clubs. Manchester City stands out as the most ambitious club in this category, featuring three names in the top rankings. 

These include Riyad Mahrez (£60m from Leicester in 2018), Omar Marmoush (€75m in 2025), and the recent addition, Antoine Semenyo (€72m from Bournemouth in 2026). Mahrez, in particular, was a huge success, winning multiple Premier League titles and the Champions League.

However, the record for the most expensive African player in the Premier League is still held by Nicolas Pépé at €80 million. Following him is Bryan Mbeumo, whose €75 million move to Manchester United was aimed at revitalizing their attack. Another significant transfer was Naby Keita to Liverpool for €60 million. 

While Keita won many trophies under Jurgen Klopp, including the Premier League and Champions League, his time at Anfield was often interrupted by injuries. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also deserves a mention for his €63.7 million move to Arsenal, where he won the Golden Boot and the FA Cup before leaving for Barcelona.

Most expensive African players in the Premier League:

Nicolas Pépé: Arsenal from Lille – €80 million (2019)

Omar Marmoush: Manchester City from Eintracht Frankfurt – €75 million (2025)

Bryan Mbeumo: Manchester United from Brentford – €75 million (2025)

Antoine Semenyo: Manchester City from Bournemouth – €72 million (2026)

Riyad Mahrez: Manchester City from Leicester City – €67.8 million (2018)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: Arsenal from Dortmund – €63.7 million (2018)

Naby Keita: Liverpool from RB Leipzig – €60 million (2018)

Livescorecz.net has revealed the 10 most expensive African players of all time and the historical records of the Premier League. You can follow the latest news and interesting rankings right here.