Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane Top List of Africa’s Highest Paid Footballers After Saudi Moves

Sadio Mane recently made a blockbuster move to Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, becoming yet another African footballer to command a huge sum to play for a team.

The continent's continuous production of remarkable players has given rise to an intriguing phenomenon - the ascendance of the highest-paid African footballers.

This trend has been further fuelled by substantial investments made by Saudi Arabian clubs, aiming to enhance the quality of their league by acquiring top-notch players.

From mesmerising skills to jaw-dropping contracts, African players are steadily cementing their positions among the elite group of high-earning professionals.

Sports Brief takes a look at the top five highest-paid footballers from the continent:

5.Thomas Partey - £200,000

The Ghanaian midfielder enjoys a staggering weekly wage of £200,000, a remarkable figure that stands at four times higher than what he earned at Atletico Madrid.

This lucrative deal underscores the value Arsenal places on Partey's exceptional talent and the impact he brings to the team.

However, it's worth noting that had he chosen to move to Saudi Arabia instead of staying in England this summer, he most likely would have earned far more.

4. Mohamed Salah - £350,000

The Liverpool and Egypt forward has undeniably emerged as one of the finest players globally in the English league system.

After an outstanding debut season with the Reds, where he netted an impressive 43 goals, Salah secured a contract extension, elevating his weekly earnings.

With his recent contract extension at Anfield, Salah now stands as the highest-paid player at the club, commanding a staggering £350,000 per week.

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3. Kalidou Koulibaly - £495,000

The formidable Senegalese centre-back is among the players who have chosen to make the move from Europe to the Middle East. The 32-year-old has recently sealed a £20 million ($25mil) transfer to Saudi Arabia, per GOAL.

He will now ply his trade at Al-Hilal, where he has secured a lucrative contract. The player previously affirmed this move was the best decision for himself and his family.

2. Sadio Mane - £650,000

Undoubtedly, Mane earned his place as one of Africa's finest players. However, he failed to hit the ground running at Bayern Munich, due to a dip in form and injury woes.

Despite these issues, the Senegalese star has joined Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League after a single season in Germany and now plies his trade alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 31-year-old is set to earn an astounding tax-free income of more than £34 million (€40mil) per year while playing for the Riyadh-based club, Sky Sports reports, working out to around £650,000 a week.

1. Riyad Mahrez - £865,000

In a recent significant development, Mahrez completed his transfer from Manchester City to Saudi club, Al-Ahli, commanding a substantial fee of £30 million.

According to a report by 90Min, the Algerian's new contract will be an astonishing £45 million annually, equating to approximately £865,000 a week and an astounding £123,000 per day.

During his remarkable five-season tenure at the Etihad Stadium, Mahrez showcased his talent in over 200 matches, playing a key role in securing four Premier League titles along the way.

Mane makes Al-Nassr debut

In related news, Sports Brief also reported on Mane making his bow for Al-Nassr against Zamalek, during an Arab Club Champions Cup tie on August 3.

The Senegalese international recently made a switch from the Bundesliga to the Saudi Pro League, following a difficult season with Bayern Munich.