One Look at the earnings of Nigerian football players plying their trade overseas will leave your mouth ajar. From Premier League giants, Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel to Stoke City’s Osaze Odemwingie and West Bromich Albion’s record signing, Brown Ideye – these professionals take home mouth watering sums.
ENCOMIUM Weekly’s MICHAEL NWOKIKE takes a look at the highest-earning Nigerian football players overseas…
JOHN OBI MIKEL, CHELSEA FC (ENGLAND)
£75,000 per week
Born John Michael Obinna on April 22, 1987, but known popularly as John Obi Mikel, the Jos-born Chelsea midfielder is one of the highest-earning footballers in Africa. In 2006, after an impressive showing at the World Youth Championship in Holland, where he finished second best behind Argentina’s Lionel Messi, he was embroiled in a fierce transfer battle between joining European heavyweights, Manchester United and Chelsea. He earns £75,000 (N24.75 million) weekly, amounting to £3,900,000 annually (N1.24 billion). However, he takes home a significantly lower sum owing to the heavy taxation system in the United Kingdom.
ENCOMIUM Weekly’s MICHAEL NWOKIKE takes a look at the highest-earning Nigerian football players overseas…
JOHN OBI MIKEL, CHELSEA FC (ENGLAND)
£75,000 per week
Born John Michael Obinna on April 22, 1987, but known popularly as John Obi Mikel, the Jos-born Chelsea midfielder is one of the highest-earning footballers in Africa. In 2006, after an impressive showing at the World Youth Championship in Holland, where he finished second best behind Argentina’s Lionel Messi, he was embroiled in a fierce transfer battle between joining European heavyweights, Manchester United and Chelsea. He earns £75,000 (N24.75 million) weekly, amounting to £3,900,000 annually (N1.24 billion). However, he takes home a significantly lower sum owing to the heavy taxation system in the United Kingdom.
