Nigerians Who made their Mark Playing in Some of the World’s Biggest Football Clubs

 In 1998, Austin Okocha showed up as the most expensive African footballer and among the highest paid in the world when he signed a $20 million deal with Paris Saint Germain (PSG). 

But it was Sunday Oliseh who had more play time with Juventus, where he played full time in every single game the old ladies played in 1999/ 2000 season.

 Emmanuel Amunike had to rub shoulders with some of the worlds very best. He contend play time with the Russian star, Hristo Stoichkov at Barcelona.

But Arsene Wenger was quick to understand why Louis Van Gaal played Nwankwo Kanu as a super-sub in Ajax. While at Arsenal, Kanu came from the bench to score a hat trick against Chelsea – 3 goals that had remained a wonder in football history.

You can’t but imagine how a Nigerian became the ‘Prince of Monaco.’ Victor Ikpeba playing along side Thierry Henry at AS Monaco lit the French league with some great football artistry and goal scoring prowess that made him walk on red carpets in Paris.

 Terry Butcher couldn’t have been the most rugged footballer in the world if you compare him with Taribo West. The Nigerian defender had severally shed his own blood while playing for Inter Milan.

It’s on record, Nwankwo Kanu, Finidi George, John Mikel Obi, Victor Moses, Dickson Etuhu had all won UEFA Champions League and the Europa Cup respectively.

You may agree with me that Paris Saint Germain, Juventus, Barcelona, Arsenal, Everton, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Schalke 04, AS Monaco, Lazio, Ajax are some of the world’s biggest clubs. Below is the list of Nigerians who played for these great clubs:

Barcelona:

Emmanuel Amunike     $3.8 Million     1996 – 2000

Gbenga Okonowo       $1.3 Milion      1998 – 2001

Chelsea:

Celestine Babayaro     £2.5 Million     1997 – 2005

John Mikel Obi           £4.5 Million     2006 –

Victor Moses            Undisclosed     2012 –

Keneth Omeruo       £1.2 Million     2012 –

Arsenal:

Nwankwo Kanu           £4.2 Million     1999 – 2004

Everton:

Daniel Amokachi                     £4.7 Million     1994 - 1996                            

Joseph Yobo                            £1 Million        2003 - 2012

Yakubu Aiyegbeni                   £2.3 Million     2007 - 2011    

Victor Anichebe                      £2.6 Million     2006 - 2012

Juventus:

Sunday Oliseh             $3.8 Million     1999 – 2000

Inter Milan :

Taribo West                $1.7 Million     1997 - 1999    

Nwankwo Kanu           $4.7 Million     1996 – 1999

Obafemi Martins        €750. 000        2001 – 2005

Obiora Nwankwo        Undisclosed     2010 – 2011

Joel Obi                                   €905, 000        2005 –

 AC Milan:

Taribo West              $2.1 Million      1999 - 2000

Taiye Taiwo                 €3.6 Million     2011 – 2013

 Lazio:

Ogenyi Onazi              €2.2 Million     2012 –

Paris Saint Germaine:

Austin Okocha             $24 Million      1998 – 2002

AS Monaco:

Victor Ikpeba               Undisclosed     1993 – 1999

Elderson Echejile        Undisclosed     2014 –

Borussia Dortmund:

Victor Ikpeba               $4.2 Million     1999 – 2002

Sunday Oliseh             $4.9 Million     2000 – 2004

 Schalke 04:

Victor Agali                 $4.2 Milion      1999 – 2002

Chinedu Obasi             $3.4 Million     2012 –

Ajax:

Finidi George              €705, 000        1993 – 1996

Nwankwo Kanu          €207, 047        1993 – 1996

Ogbonaya Kanu         €502, 000        1996 – 2001

Sunday Oliseh             €1.2 Million     1997 - 1999