Photo by Tomasz Baranowski / Attribution 2.0 Generic
So many young Nigerians dream of making it big and getting signed by one of the top Premier League teams in England. The quality of the game and players there is also among the best in the world, not to mention that a good stint in the world’s most valuable football league could see them and their families set up for life.
In addition to the opportunity to play in the world’s greatest football league, the fame can also lead to successes off the pitch, with the potential for adverts and brand endorsement adding to the salaries that the average Nigerian, and indeed English person, could only wish for.
The English Premier League (EPL) has become the world’s favourite league because of many factors. The teams play at a furious pace, and there can be many upsets and unexpected winners throughout the season, due to the passion and high-intensity of the games.
Another factor is the amount of money teams get to play with. Last season alone, the 20 EPL teams raked in just under £2.5 million from TV rights and commercial revenue. The majority of this was shared equally between the clubs, however, this season the top six teams in the table will receive a greater share of the revenue.
Sites such as the BBC and the official Premier League website feature expert analysis, and sites like MarathonBet offer odds for each Premier League game. These resources mean that Wilfred Ndidi fans can keep up-to-date with Leicester’s chances of overtaking favourites Liverpool and beating all odds to win the Premier League. Or, perhaps you’ll want to check out how Victor Moses’ Chelsea’s chances are of finishing in the top four.
Whoever your favourite player is, you can find out about their earning and teams here.
Leicester’s Wilfred Ndidi
Birthplace: Lagos
Wilfred Ndidi is Leicester’s fifth-highest paid player with a weekly salary of £75,000, making a staggering salary of just under £4 million per year. Still in his early twenties (he’s 22), the defensive midfielder is on a five-year contract with the Foxes, who are currently sitting comfortably in the top four and could possibly push for another Premier League win this year. If top-placed Liverpool slip up, that is. The contract could see the Nigerian bring in £19.50 million in total.
Leicester’s Kelechi Iheanacho
Birthplace: Imo
Another big-earner from the strong Leicester team is Nigerian Kelechi Iheanacho. He transferred from last season’s champions Manchester City in 2017, and is currently earning £70,000 per week, just below his teammate Ndidi’s weekly wage. He is, however a year younger at 21. His contract runs until 2022.
Watford’s Isaac Success
Birthplace: Benin City
Watford’s left winger, Isaac Success is a 24-year-old who joined the club in 2016, a year after the club was promoted to the Premier League. He transferred from Spain’s La Liga’s Granada for a fee of £12.5 million, and the Nigerian international currently earns around £45,000 per week. All being well, he’ll see out his contract until 2021 at the mid-table club.
Everton’s Alex Iwobi
Birthplace: Lagos
This 22-year-old joined Arsenal as a junior and made his way up the ranks until he transferred to Everton in August 2019, for £35 million. The 23-year-old’s contract runs until 2024, and reports suggest he is earning £50,000 per week, with a contract potential of £2.6 million a year.
Although some very high-profile players in the English Premier League earn more per week than these Nigerian players (Manchester United’s David de Gea earns a weekly salary of £375,000), they still earn more per week than most of us would earn in a year – an income not to be sniffed at.
Of course, we can also mention Angelo Ogbonna, the Nigerian-Italian who was born in Cassino, Italy and currently plays for West Ham United. The centre back moved from Juventus to England in 2015, and also earns one of the Nigerian players’ highest salaries. The Italian born Nigerian picks up £70,000 a week and £3,640,000 per year.
Meanwhile, Dele Alli plays for one of the top four contentders, Tottenham Hotspur. Hailing from Milton Keynes in England, the English-Nigerian is paid the most out of all the Nigerians in the EPL, with earnings of £100,000 per week and £5,200,000 per year.
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