Nigeria has a rich football culture, with many young talents progressing from local clubs to the global stage. By 2025, Nigeria’s top stars in Europe command multi-million dollar contracts. In fact, the top 10 highest-paid Nigerians earn between roughly $2.6 million and $10.5 million per year. These massive salaries reflect Nigerian players’ importance in the world’s top leagues. Below we profile the ten highest-earning Nigerian footballers in 2025, highlighting their careers and reported salaries.
The highest paid Bigerian football players in 2025 were:
- Victor Osimhen: ≈ $10.5 – 11.0 million per year
(Napoli contract baseline; Galatasaray deal is reportedly higher net, but gross estimates place him here) - Victor Boniface: ≈ $6.5 million per year
(Bayer Leverkusen, post-extension) - Samuel Chukwueze: ≈ $5.9 million per year
(AC Milan) - Alex Iwobi: ≈ $5.6 million per year
(Fulham) - Kelechi Iheanacho: ≈ $5.4 million per year
(Sevilla / loan arrangements) - Wilfred Ndidi: ≈ $5.4 million per year
(Leicester City) - Joe Aribo: ≈ $4.9 million per year
(Southampton) - Taiwo Awoniyi: ≈ $3.6 million per year
(Nottingham Forest) - Calvin Bassey: ≈ $3.2 million per year
(Fulham) - Ola Aina: ≈ $2.7 million per year
(Nottingham Forest)
Ola Aina
Nigeria has a rich football culture, with many young talents progressing from local clubs to the global stage. By 2025, Nigeria’s top stars in Europe command multi-million dollar contracts. In fact, the top 10 highest-paid Nigerians earn between roughly $2.6 million and $10.5 million per year. These massive salaries reflect Nigerian players’ importance in the world’s top leagues. Below we profile the ten highest-earning Nigerian footballers in 2025, highlighting their careers and reported salaries.
Salary and earnings: According to Capology data compiled by sports media, Aina’s Nottingham Forest contract pays him about $2.6 million per year (approximately $50k per week).
Calvin Bassey
Calvin Bassey is a dynamic defender who transferred to Fulham in 2023. Known for his strength and ability to play both center-back and left-back, Bassey quickly became a key player for his London club. His growth in Europe mirrors that of the Super Eagles, and he is one of only two Nigerian defenders among the top earners
Salary and earnings: Bassey’s Fulham contract is worth roughly $2.92 million per year. This works out to about $56k per week (around $224k per month) as of 2025.
Taiwo Awoniyi
Taiwo Awoniyi is a striker for Nottingham Forest who played a crucial role in helping the team avoid relegation in recent seasons. He is known for his strength and goal-scoring instincts in the Premier League. Awoniyi’s decisive performances have made him one of Nigeria’s top earners.
Salary and earnings: Bassey’s Fulham contract is worth roughly $2.92 million per year. This works out to about $56k per week (around $224k per month) as of 2025.
Joe Aribo
Joe Aribo is a midfielder (often playing centrally or on the wing) for Southampton. After moving from Rangers (Scotland) to Southampton in 2022, Aribo became a regular starter despite the club’s struggles. His experience and versatility keep him as a valuable squad member whether Southampton competes in the Premier League or the Championship.
Salary and earnings: Aribo earns around $4.54 million per year at Southampton (about $87k per week). This salary ranks him among the top-paid Nigerians despite the club’s recent relegation.
Wilfred Ndidi
Wilfred Ndidi is an established defensive midfielder who long starred at Leicester City. In 2024 Ndidi signed a multi-year contract extension with Leicester, showing his commitment to the club even after they were relegated from the Premier League. His stability and leadership in midfield have ensured he remains one of Nigeria’s highest-paid players.
Salary and earnings: Ndidi’s Leicester contract is worth roughly $5.02 million per year (about $96.5k per week). His pay reflects Leicester’s valuation of him as a key veteran player.
Kelechi Iheanacho
Kelechi Iheanacho is a forward currently on loan at Middlesbrough (from Sevilla). Once a young starlet at Manchester City, Iheanacho later moved to Leicester and then Sevilla. Even on loan, Sevilla continued to cover much of his wages, keeping him in the top earners list. His enduring potential and contract terms make him one of Nigeria’s best-paid.
Salary and earnings: According to available data, Iheanacho’s wages amount to about $5.03 million per year (around $96.8k per week).
Alex Iwobi
Alex Iwobi is a talented midfielder known for his playmaking. After a decade at Arsenal, he moved to Everton and then transferred to Fulham in 2023. Iwobi quickly became a key player in Fulham’s squad, and his salary reflects that status.
Salary and earnings: Fulham’s contract for Iwobi is roughly $5.15 million per year (about $99k per week). This salary places him firmly among Nigeria’s highest-paid players.
Samuel Chukwueze
Samuel Chukwueze is a winger who signed with AC Milan in 2023 after success at Villarreal. The move to a top Serie A club significantly boosted his profile and earnings. Although his playing time at Milan has fluctuated, he “remains one of the highest-paid Nigerians” thanks to his lucrative contract.
Salary and earnings: AC Milan pays Chukwueze about $5.4 million per year (approximately $104k per week). His contract is among the richest for any Nigerian winger.
Victor Boniface
Victor Boniface is a young striker for Bayer Leverkusen. He joined the German club in 2023 and made an immediate impact, leading to a contract extension in early 2025. Reports indicate the new deal doubled his wages.
Salary and earnings: After the extension, Boniface’s salary is about $6.5 million per year. This makes him the second-highest-paid Nigerian, earning about $125k per week under the new contract.
Victor Osimhen
Victor Osimhen is Nigeria’s most famous striker. He was Napoli’s star forward and Serie A’s top scorer before moving on loan to Galatasaray in 2024. Even after that move, Osimhen remains the highest-paid Nigerian. Soccernet notes his Napoli contract was about $10.5 million per year. In 2025 he signed a permanent transfer to Galatasaray, which reportedly guarantees him a net $16 million per season.
Salary and earnings: Osimhen’s earnings are around $10.49 million per year from his Napoli contract, and under his new Galatasaray deal he will earn significantly more (about $16 million net annually). His weekly pay (at Napoli’s terms) was roughly $202k, highlighting his status as Nigeria’s top earner.
To Put Things in Perspective
Taken together, these ten players earn around $50–51 million per year in salary alone. The lowest figure on the list is about $2.6M (for Ola Aina) and the highest well over $10M. Their combined earnings underscore Nigeria’s strong presence in top European leagues. These salaries dwarf what is typically possible in the Nigerian domestic league, highlighting why Nigeria’s best talents often move abroad. As more Nigerian stars emerge globally, we can expect future lists to include up-and-coming players as well. For now, the superstars above represent the pinnacle of Nigerian football earnings in 2025.
Sources: Salary data and player information are drawn from sports finance reports and news articles (Capology, ESPN and Spotrac). Each figure is based on publicly reported contracts and exchange rates for 2025.
