There are no doubts that in the recent times, football has been one of the highest paying and profitable career in the sport and entertainment industry. Since the past years, a lot of Nigerians has been opportuned to have a great and their always-dreamed football career. Some of them got discovered while on International duties, some through agents at their local teams, and others who left the country in search of fortune in the industry.
In this article, we will be taking a look at some of the footballers who have been able to make fortune with football as a career and reach our list for the richest.
In order words, we will be takung a loot at the top 10 richest footballers in Nigeria.
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Without wasting much time, let’s dive in straight!
1. John Mikel Obi
| Position | Mid-fielder |
| Originality | Jos, Plateau State |
| Net Worth | $60 Million |
John Mikel Obi often regarded as Mikel Obi is a Nigeria-originated football player who plays as a midfielder. He started his career in Nigeria before getting the chance to join a football team in Norway, Lyn Oslo.
Upon exit from Lyon, Mikel Obi signed a contract deal with the popular Premier League team, Chelsea Football Club, where he had gained so much reputation and was hard-working enough to join the team’s first eleven squads within a very short time after joining the team.
In 2019, he departed from Chelsea football club to Trabzonspor, a Turkish league football club upon the expiry of his contract with the team.
While at Chelsea, Mikel Obi salary was about $9 million per season and now about $2.3 million at his new team.
Mikel Obi’s net worth is estimated to be around $60 million ranking him as the richest football player in Nigeria.
2. Odion Ighalo
| Position | Forward |
| Originality | Lagos State, Nigeria |
| Net Worth | $35 Million |
Odion Ighalo is a Nigerian player who currently plays as a forward player for the popular EPL team, Manchester United.
He played in the Nigerian championship team, Prime, before he was discovered by a FIFA agent and went for a trial at the Norwegian team, Lyn.
Odion Ighalo also plays for his country, Nigeria, where he wears the No. 9 jersey i.e plays the role of the main attacking striker for the team.
Odion Ighalo’s net worth is currently estimated to be $35 million which makes him rank as the 2nd richest footballer in Nigeria.
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3. Obafemi Martins
| Position | Striker |
| Originality | Lagos State, Nigeria |
| Net Worth | $35 Million |
Obafemi Akinwunmi Martins is a Yoruba-born Nigerian football player. The forward player who is known for his great speed with the ball was born in October 28th, 1984.
He began the journey to chase his football career at the age of 16 years old after completing his secondary school education. He left his fatherland and went all the way to Italy where he began his football career.
Martins have played for quite a number of teams in Europe and this makes him get the title of the Nigerian footballer who have played in the highest number of teams. Some of the clubs he has played for are; Inter Milan, Newcastle, Levante, and many others.
Obafemi Martins currently wears No. 17 Jersey for the popular Chinese team, Shanghai Greenland Shenhua F.C. where he plays the role of a striker. Also, he has retired from playing in his national team, Nigeria, which he did in 2018.
Obafemi Martins’s current net worth is estimated to be $35 Million ranking him as the 3rd richestfootballer in Nigeria.
4. Victor Moses
| Position | Winger |
| Originality | Lagos State, Nigeria |
| Net Worth | $30 million |
Victor Moses is a Nigerian professional football player and a sportsperson. He was born on December 12, 1990, and officially started his football career at the age of 11 years old.
He left his hometown, Nigeria, for the United Kingdom after the death of his parents at their home in Lagos. This was a result of Miss World Religious Riot which occurred then and since Moses’s father was a Pastor, his life also was also taken.
While in the UK, Victor Moses had his education and also began his football career as a young academy football player.
Victor Moses’s first European team was Crystal Palace before he was then transferred to Wigan Athletic.
Since leaving Crystal Palace, Victor Moses has played in quite a number of European teams such as Chelsea FC, Liverpool, West Ham, and others.
He currently plays on loan from Chelsea, at the Italian football team, Inter Milan, where he plays the role of a midfielder/winger.
Victor Moses also plays the position of a winger at Nigeria’s National Team, Super Eagles, where he wears the No. 11 jersey.
Victor Moses’s current net worth is estimated to be $30 million ranking him as the 4th richest Nigeria professional football player.
5. Vincent Enyeama
| Position | Goal Keeper |
| Originality | Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria |
| Net Worth | $25 Million |
Here comes another rich footballer in Nigeria, Vincent Enyeama, who was born on 29 August 1982.
The shot-stopper began his career as the Goal Keeper for the Nigerian Professional Football League’s Enyimba. He was chanced to get an opportunity to continue his career in Europe and didn’t let it slide by.
Vincent Enyeama was the official Nigeria first-team goalkeeper right from the 2000s but later retired in October 2015 with series of clean sheet saves.
He currently plays at the French league team, Lille OSC, where he has gained prominence as one of the best Nigerian Goalkeepers.
Vincent Enyeama’s net worth is currently estimated to be $25 ranking him as th 5th richest Nigerian football player.
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6. Ahmed Musa
| Position | Forward |
| Originality | Plateau State, Nigeria |
| Net Worth | $20 Million |
Ahmed Musa is yet another rich Nigerian footballer whose story began all from his hometown, Nigeria, where he played in series of teams; Kano Pillars, JUTH FC, and others.
During the summer break in 2010, he got a transfer deal to continue his career at the Dutch team, VVV-Venlo.
Ahmed Musa has played in two other European teams; CSKA Moscow and Leicester FC. He currently plays as a forward at the Saudi Arabian team, Al-Nassr FC.
Apart from these, Ahmed Musa happens to be the official captain for his International team, Nigeria, where he wears the No. 7 jersey and plays as a winger.
As of now, Ahmed Musa’s current net worth is estimated to be $20 Million ranking him as the 6th richest football player in Nigeria.
7. Kelechi Iheanacho
| Position | Forward |
| Originality | Imo State, Nigeria |
| Net Worth | $19 Million |
Kelechi Iheanacho is a Nigerian professional football player who was born on October 3, 1996. He happens to be the No. 14 Jersey holder for the Leicester City Football Club where he currently plays, and as well as his country, Nigeria.
He plays the role of a striker and sometimes also placed as a winger.
He was discovered as a result of his excellent performance at the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup where he represented his country. Quite a number of teams showed interest in him but he decided to make the moves to join Manchester City.
At that point, he was still under the age of 18 so he signed a pre-contract and joined the club’s Under-17 team before officially joining the senior team on his 18th birthday.
Kelechi Iheanacho’s net worth is estimated to be $19 million making him rank as the No. 7 richest footballer in Nigeria.
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8. Alexander Iwobi
| Position | Mid-fielder |
| Originality | Lagos State, Nigeria |
| Net Worth | $18 Million |
Alex Iwobi is a Nigerian-born British accent footballer who was born on May 3, 1996. His uncle happens to be one of the word-class popularly known retired footballer, JJ Okocha.
Iwobi left the country at the age of 4 and moved to Newham in the United Kingdom. He had his basic education over there and began his football career from a very young age.
He joined the academy for the popular English team, Arsenal FC, at the age of 8, while he was still in primary school.
Alex Iwobi had being a debut substitute for Arsenal senior team since 2013 but officially joined the team in October, 2015 on a 4 years contract.
Alex Iwobi currently plays at the Everton F.C. in the role of a mid-fielder and also for his home country, Nigeria.
Alex Iwobi’s net worth is estimated to be $18 Million dollars and ranked as the 8th richest footballer in Nigeria.
9. Yakubu Aiyegbeni
| Position | Striker |
| Originality | Edo State, Nigeria |
| Net Worth | $14 Million |
Yakubu Aiyegbeni also known as Yaks is a foreign-based Nigerian professional football player who was born on November 22, 1982.
He started his football career in Nigeria as a player at the famous Julius Berger F.C. in Lagos, Nigeria.
He gained prominence into the European sphere after a loan contract he got to the Portuguese Gil Vicente.
Yakubu Ayegeni currently has retired as a football player and he happens to be the 3rd highest scorer for the Nigerian Super Eagles with 21 goals in 57 appearances.
Yakubu Ayegbeni’s net worth is currently estimated at $14 Million which he made from his career as a football player.
And thus, ranking him as the No. 9 richest football player in Nigeria.
10. Wilfred Ndidi
| Position | Mid-fielder |
| Originality | Lagos State, Nigeria |
| Net Worth | $10 Millon |
Here comes our last man today on our list for the top 10 richest footballers in Nigeria.
Wilfred Ndidi is a Nigerian mid-field positioned football player whose story began from the Nathaniel Boys F.C. in in hometown.
Ndidi was born was born on December 16, 1996 into a family of three emerging as the first child of the family. Back then, his father was a member of the Nigerian Army while his mother happened to be a petty trader.
He got the opportunity to join the Nigeria under-20 football team and later got discovered by an agent who helped him Join the Belgian KRC Genk.
In 2019, he had a wedding ceremony with his Nigerian Girlfriend who with whom he has been together before traveling to Europe.
Ndidi currently plays at the English Premier League team, Leicester City as a Defensive midfielder. Apart from this, he also currently study Business and Management at De Montfort University in Leicester.
He also plays for his National team, Nigeria, where he holds the no. 4 jersey and plays his usual role, defensive midfield.
As of now ,Wilfred Ndidi net worth is estimated at $10 million ranking him as the 10th richest soccer player in Nigeria.
Summary
The table below shows the quick recap of the top 10 richest footballers in Nigeria and their net worth as discussed.
| 1. | John Mikel Obi | $60 Million |
| 2. | Odion Ighalo | $35 Million |
| 3. | Obafemi Marins | $35 Million |
| 4. | Victor Moses | $30 Million |
| 5. | Vincent Enyeama | $25 Million |
| 6. | Ahmed Musa | $20 Million |
| 7. | Kelechi Iheanacho | $19 Million |
| 8. | Alex Iwobi | $18 Million |
| 9. | Yakubu Ayegbeni | $14 Million |
| 10. | Wilfred Ndidi | $10 Million |
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