Nigerian striker to become Africa’s most expensive player after blockbuster transfer to Saudi

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen is set to become the most expensive African footballer after Saudi club Al Ahli agreed an €80 million deal with Italian side Napoli.

Osimhen has been one of the most discussed players in the transfer window with Premier League club Chelsea and a host of Saudi Pro league sides interested.

Talks with Chelsea broke down on Thursday, leaving the door open for the cash-rich Saudi’s and Al Ahli moved with speed to seal a deal with Napoli.

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Osimhen will sign a four-year contract that will earn him a net salary of between €25 and €30 million per season and will also include a release clause.

His club Napoli will in exchange receive a guaranteed fee of €75 million with an extra €5 million in add-ons which will take the total package to €80 million.

The transfer ends speculation over the striker’s future and also makes him the most expensive African footballer in the world.

It beats the record of €79 million (£72 million) that Arsenal paid for Ivorian winger Nicolas Pepe from Lille in August 2019 and well as the €71 million total package French giants Paris Saint-Germain paid for Morocco full-back Achraf Hakimi from Inter Milan in July 2021.

Osimhen is one of the most revered strikers in the world and helped Napoli to the Serie A title in 2022-23, after scoring 26 league goals, and leaves the Italian club after four seasons in which he bagged 76 goals in 133 games.

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