Sadio Mane’s recent move to Bayern Munich has seen him become the highest paid African player surpassing former teammate Mohamed Salah.
The Senegal star chose to call time on his six-year Liverpool stay this summer with one year left on his deal. A switch to Bayern could earn the Reds just over £30m as the 30-year-old embarks on a new challenge, all while pocketing £250,000-a-week.
Wages are currently a sticking point in Liverpool’s negotiations with Salah, who too has 12 months left on his deal. The Reds have a firm wage structure, which they would have to break to retain the Egyptian’s services. The forward is seeking a reported £400,000-a-week despite currently earning £220,000-a-week.
Premier League players currently make up seven of the top nine earning African stars. Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez and Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey sit joint third on the list, each pocketing £200,000-a-week. The latter joined the north Londoners from Atletico Madrid two years ago.
Partey’s teammate Nicolas Pepe is also on the list, albeit he has endured a less than impressive time since his club-record move from Lille. The Gunners spent £72m on the Ivorian, who earns weekly wages of £140,000. In his three years at the Emirates he has scored just 27 times.
Pepe narrowly earns more than compatriot Wilfried Zaha, who has spent the last eight years at Crystal Palace. The winger has pushed for a move elsewhere on several occasions, only for the Eagles to stand firm on each occasion as they remain determined to hold on to their star man.
Liverpool’s Naby Keita is subject to the club’s wage structure and earns narrowly less than several of his fellow Africans, banking £120,000-a-week at Anfield. The Guinea midfielder moved to Anfield for more than £50m back in 2018 but has been unable to fully unlock his potential on Merseyside.
Andre Ayew, previously of West Ham United and Swansea City, and PSG’s Achraf Hakimi are the only two players on the list plying their trade outside of England. Ayew made a move to Qatar in 2021, now playing for Al Sadd, the team formerly led by Xavi. Hakimi meanwhile left Inter Milan for a huge fee to join up with PSG only last summer and, like most of their squad, is handsomely rewarded financially.
Highest paid African footballers
Sadio Mane £250,000-a-week
Mo Salah £220,000-a-week
Thomas Partey £200,000-a-week
Riyad Mahrez £200,000-a-week
