Who is each major club’s most expensive African signing?

Goal review the most expensive African recruit at some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Arsenal: Nicolas Pepe, £72 million from Lille

Eclipsing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as Arsenal’s most expensive African signing, Pepe became the continent's most expensive player last summer when Arsenal parted with £72 million to bring the wideman to the Emirates Stadium from LOSC Lille.

He penned a five-year contract with the Gunners after scoring 22 goals and contributing 11 assists in Ligue 1 last term, prompting former coach Unai Emery to turn to him ahead of another target, Wilfried Zaha.

Arsenal fans are desperate for Pepe to emulate Eden Hazard, LOSC's finest import to the Premier League, rather than his compatriot Gervinho, although to date, Pepe has only shown his quality in glimpses in the top flight.

Atletico Madrid: Bernard Mensah, £5.4 million from Vitoria Guimaraes

While Thomas Partey is currently starring for Atleti, it’s another Ghanaian—Mensah—who’s their most expensive African signing.

Brought to the club from Portugal as something of a punt in 2015, the 25-year-old never featured in the league for the Spanish giants.

After loan spells with Getafe, Kayserispor, and back at his former club, he signed permanently for Kayserispor last year, and now faces the tough assignment of rebuilding his promising career.


Barcelona: Samuel Eto’o, £24.3 million from Real Mallorca

£24.3 million is a hefty fee today, let alone back in 2004, when Barca recruited Eto’o from Real Mallorca, where the Cameroon superstar had already become the club’s all-time top scorer after joining from Real Madrid.

He’d to on to repay the Catalan giants emphatically, winning two Champions League titles, three La Ligas, and becoming one of the club’s all-time greats before moving onto Internazionale—and further success—in 2009.


Liverpool: Naby Keita, £52.75 million from RasenBallsport Leipzig

Nabbed by Liverpool from RasenBallsport Leipzig, Keita is yet to truly realise his potential following a £52.75 million move, despite winning the Champions League last season.

He was one of the key protagonists in Leipzig's climb up the German football ladder, but took his time adapting to life in the Premier League, before injury struck towards the end of his maiden season at Anfield.

In 2019-20, he's been similarly undermined by fitness issues, but remains in line to win a Premier League title once football resumes.

Man City: Riyad Mahrez, £60 million from Leicester City

City parted with a club-record £60 million to sign Mahrez in 2018, finally ending the Algeria international's extended wait to exit Leicester City.

He may have been a Premier League winner with the Foxes in 2016, during that most remarkable of campaigns, but Mahrez hasn't always found the going easy at the Etihad Stadium, where he's occasionally struggled for playing time under Pep Guardiola.

After making a series of decisive contributions last term, as the Sky Blues won a swathe of domestic silverware, the African champion has already won the League Cup this season.

Man United: Aaron Wan-Bissaka, £49.5 million from Crystal Palace

The Anglo-Congolese wonder kid joined United from Crystal Palace for £49.5 million last summer.

He's already excelled in the Premier League, impressing with his sturdy defensive displays in recent seasons, and has represented an upgrade on the Red Devils' previous options at right-back despite their domestic troubles.

It's surely only a matter of time before the former DR Congo U-20 international represents England at senior level.


Paris Saint-Germain: Abdou Diallo, £28.8 million from Dortmund
While many bright young Franco-African talents have swapped France for Germany in recent months, Diallo made the opposite move last year, leaving Dortmund for PSG.

His first season back in the land of his birth has been promising—he’s established himself among the Top 10 most accurate passers in the division—although he’s battled injury since January.

Eligible for Senegal, Diallo captained France’s U-21 side, but is yet to be capped by Les Bleus.


Real Madrid: Mahamadou Diarra, £23.4m from Olmypique Lyonnais


One of the great underrated African players of the first decade of the 2000s, Diarra followed up a remarkably successful spell in France with a fine three-and-a-half-year tenure with Real.

His tactical discipline, defensive attributes and tenacity finally helped Los Blancos forget the departed Claude Makelele, and Diarra forged an excellent midfield partnership with Emerson.

Diarra’s record of six consecutive league titles across two different European major divisions is unlikely to be matched any time soon.

Tottenham Hotspur: Ryan Sessegnon, £24.3 million from Fulham

Spurs were clearly looking to the future when they signed Sessegnon from Fulham last year, and he looked like being an astute addition.

The teenager was the first player born this century to play in the Football League, and the youngest ever scorer in the Championship. He hadn’t truly made his mark with Fulham in the Premier League, but having been already talked about as a potential England international, expectations were high.

It’s proved to be a difficult campaign for the London giants, both under Mauricio Pochettino and then Jose Mourinho, and Sessegnon is yet to truly demonstrate his quality with his new employers.

West Ham United: Sebastien Haller, £45 million from Frankfurt

The Hammers parted with £45 million to sign Haller from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer, and unless he represents either France or Germany, he can fairly be considered the club’s most expensive African addition.

The striker scored 15 goals and contributing nine assists last term, although while he's impressed on occasion this term, he will surely need to improve on a return of seven goals in 27 league games if the Hammers are to steer clear of relegation.

The 25-year-old remains eligible for the Cote d'Ivoire.