Mikel Obi makes Top 10 Richest African Footballers

Mikel Obi makes Top 10 Richest African Footballers

By Zina Network:

The aforementioned players paved the way for today’s African footballers to make their mark on world football and for some to be considered amongst the greatest of their generation.

Such talent has invariably seen them be well rewarded financially and many of Africa’s modern day greatest feature on this list of Africa’s richest current footballers.

Below is the Top 10 Africa’s Richest Players as of 2014:

10. VEIJEANY CHRISTOPHER SAMBA – $8 Million

Veijeany Christopher Samba (born 28 March 1984), known as Christopher Samba, is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for FC Dynamo Moscow in the Russian Premier League. Born in France, he plays for theCongo national team. The Congolese defender’s wealth owes greatly to the contract he signed at Anzhi Makhachkala where he was paid $160,000 per week. Before then he made his name as the no nonsense captain of Blackburn Rovers. Between two spells at Anzhi he spent six months at Queens Park Rangers, where he again earned around $160,000 a week. He is currently at Dynamo Moscow after being sold in a fire sale of players by Anzhi.

9. SEYDOU KEITA – $10 Million

Seydou Keita (born 16 January 1980) is a Malian professional footballer who plays for Italian club A.S. Roma. A versatile midfielder, he can operate as both a central or defensive midfielder, and played most notably with Lens (five seasons) and Barcelona (four), winning 14 titles with the latter. Keita represented Malian national team since the age of 20, appearing with it at seven Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, and also holds a French passport. The Malian midfielder has recently returned to Spain with Valencia after a year in the Chinese Super League. Keita earned a reported $16million before tax in his year with Chinese Super League club Dalian Aerbin FC. Before that move he had been an important member of the Barcelona squad for four years having impressed at Sevilla and in the French Ligue 1.

8. FRÉDÉRIC OUMAR KANOUTÉ – $12 Million

Frédéric Oumar Kanouté (born 2 September 1977) is a retired Malian professional footballer who played for several top-tier clubs within UEFA, enjoying his greatest success with La Liga side Sevilla FC. Kanouté was named the 2007 African Footballer of the Year, the first player born outside Africa to win the award as well as consecutive UEFA Cups. The legendary Malian striker began his career in France with Lyon before moving to England with West Ham in 2001. He is currently at Beijing Guoan in the Chinese Super League. In 2007 he spent a reported $700,000 buying his local mosque in Seville.

7. JOHN MIKEL OBI – $15 Million

John Michael Nchekwube Obinna (born 22 April 1987), known as John Obi Mikel is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for English club Chelsea and the Nigeria national team. After just 6 appearances for Norwegian club Lyn Oslo, Mikel became infamous within the football world. In 2005 both Manchester United and Chelsea announced the signing of 18 year-old Mikel in what would become a protracted transfer saga. It was eventually settled in 2006 with Chelsea paying Lyn Oslo just £4million, whilst Manchester United received £12million without the player ever having played for them. The Nigerian has achieved great success at Chelsea winning the Premier League and Champions League amongst others, and reportedly earns $5million a year.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       6. KOLO TOURE – $18 Million

Kolo Abib Touré (born 19 March 1981) is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays for English club Liverpool as a defender. Born in Bouaké,Touré joined Premier League team Arsenal from ASEC Mimosas on a long-term contract for a fee of £150,000 on 14 February 2002 after a short trial. His status as a full international meant Touré was able to secure a British work permit. Toure has played for three of England’s biggest clubs in the form of Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool. He also has a lucrative sponsorship deal with Adidas. He has become an integral player for the Côte d’Ivoire national team and is one half of football’s highest paid siblings.

 

 5. MICHEAL ESSIEN – $25 Million