celebrity radar - gossips
OSIMHEN: Top 25 Nigerian footballers overseas earn $77.66m annually
OSIMHEN: Top 25 Nigerian footballers overseas earn $77.66m annually
Since ex-Nigeria midfielder Sylvanus Okpala blazed the trail in 1983, when he joined Uniao of Portugal from Enugu Rangers, there has been an astronomical increase in the number of Nigerian footballers venturing overseas to sign lucrative contracts with foreign clubs, making significant strides in the global football arena in terms of performance and earnings. Based on information on the various player earnings websites such as Salary Sport and Capology, here are the top 25 Nigerian players plying their trade overseas who collectively rake in a whopping $71.73m, approximately N81.86bn annually, PETER AKINBO writes
- Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, $16.96m)
Victor Osimhen is currently the highest-earning Nigerian player, with an annual wage of $16.96m.
At 25, Osimhen has firmly established himself as one of the best forwards in the world, leading Napoli to their first Serie A title in over three decades during the 2022/23 season. His performances earned him accolades, including the Serie A Best Striker award and the 2023 African Player of the Year award.
As Serie A’s highest-paid player, Osimhen accounts for nearly 24% of the total earnings of the top 25 Nigerian players. This not only cements his status as Nigeria’s top earner but also places him among the highest-paid African footballers globally. He just completed a loan move to Galatasaray in Turkey.
- Alex Iwobi (Fulham, $5.57m)
Alex Iwobi, who recently moved from Everton to Fulham in the Premier League, earns $5.57m) annually.
The 28-year-old midfielder has found a new lease of life since his move to Craven Cottage, becoming a key player for the London club with his versatility and creativity in the Premier League.
- Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, $5.05m)
Leicester City’s midfield powerhouse, Wilfred Ndidi, earns $5.05m annually at the Premier League side
The 27-year-old has been a mainstay in Leicester’s midfield since his arrival in 2017.
Renowned for his tackling and defensive contributions, Ndidi was instrumental in Leicester’s FA Cup triumph in 2021 and their Community Shield win in 2022, and he figured prominently in their Championship triumph last season as the Foxes secured an immediate return to the Premier League.
- Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, $4.84m)
Samuel Chukwueze, who joined AC Milan from Villarreal in 2023, is another high-earner with an annual salary of $4.84m.
The 25-year-old winger, known for his speed and dribbling ability, was a key player for Villarreal during his time in Spain, helping them secure the UEFA Europa League title in 2021.
His switch to Milan has further elevated his career, and he has promised to dazzle in the Serie A this campaign.
- Joe Aribo (Southampton, $4.66m)
Joe Aribo, a versatile midfielder with Premier League side Southampton, takes home $4.66m) annually.
The 28-year-old joined the Saints from Rangers and quickly became a mainstay in their lineup.
Aribo, whose creativity and eye for goal have made him a crucial player for both club and country, was instrumental in Southampton regaining their Premier League status last term.
- Kelechi Iheanacho (Sevilla, $4.40m)
Kelechi Iheanacho will earn $4.40m per year at Spanish La Liga side Sevilla following his summer arrival at the club as a free agent on a two-year contract.
The 28-year-old forward has built a reputation for scoring crucial goals, particularly in cup competitions.
Despite Leicester’s struggles in 2022/23, Iheanacho remained one of their most reliable goal-scorers and will be pivotal for his new employers in Spain as well.
- Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, $3.37m)
Taiwo Awoniyi is a key player for Nottingham Forest, where he earns $3.37m annually at the Premier League club.
The 27-year-old striker helped the club with key goals in their final matches of last season as they beat relegation last season following their return to the Premier League, scoring.
- Calvin Bassey (Fulham, $2.98m)
Calvin Bassey, a 24-year-old defender, joined Premier League outfit Fulham from Ajax and earns $2.98m annually.
Known for his versatility, Bassey can play both as a centre-back and a left-back, which makes him a valuable asset for the London club.
- Moses Simon (Nantes, $2.65m)
Moses Simon, one of Nigeria’s most consistent wingers, earns $2.65m a year at French club Nantes.
The 29-year-old has been a consistent standout performer in Ligue 1, where he is renowned for his pace and dribbling skills.
Simon was instrumental to Nantes’ Coupe de France win in 2022.
- Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest, $2.69m)
Ola Aina recently returned to the Premier League with Nottingham Forest, where he earns $2.69m annually.
The 27-year-old fullback is known for his versatility, and he is capable of playing on both flanks.
Aina’s experience in Serie A with Torino has helped him mature into a reliable defender for club and country.
- Frank Onyeka (Brentford, $2.69m)
Onyeka, 27, has been a key figure in Brentford’s midfield since joining them in 2021. His energy and box-to-box play have been crucial to the Bees’ Premier League survival.
The Nigeria international earns $2.69m annually at Brentford Community Stadium.
Onyeka has been an integral part of Brentford’s midfield since joining from FC Midtjylland in 2021.
- Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, $2.46m)
Ademola Lookman, currently playing for Atalanta in the Italian Serie A, earns $2.46m per year.
The 26-year-old winger enjoyed a stellar debut season in Italy, finishing as Atalanta’s top scorer in the 2023/24 campaign, which he topped up with a hat-trick in the Europa League final to secure Atalanta’s first-ever European trophy.
Lookman’s pace and finishing ability have made him a key figure in Gian Piero Gasperini’s side.
- Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen,$2.20m)
Victor Boniface has swiftly made a name for himself at German Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, where he is tied to a $2.20m annual salary.
He was part of the Invincibles squad last season as they won the league and domestic cup, which was double unbeaten in all competitions except the UEL final against Atalanta.
The 23-year-old striker joined Union Saint-Gilloise and has impressed in the Bundesliga with his physical presence and goal-scoring prowess.
- Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla, $2.07m)
Chidera Ejuke, a dynamic winger who also just completed his move to Sevilla in the Spanish La Liga, earns $2.07m per year.
Known for his dribbling and creativity, the 26-year-old was a key player in the Russian Premier League for CSKA Moscow.
- Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor, $1.94m)
Onuachu, a towering striker, currently plying his trade with Southampton in the Premier League, earns $1.94m annually.
The 30-year-old, who excelled on loan at Turkish Super Lig side Trabzonspor last season, joined the Saints in 2023 after a prolific spell in Belgium with Genk. His aerial prowess has added a new dimension to the Saints’ attack.
- Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, $1.94m)
Nathan Tella, a versatile winger who recently moved to Bayer Leverkusen in the German Bundesliga, earns $1.94m per year.
Like Boniface, he was also pivotal in their double-winning campaign, contributing crucial assists and late goals.
The 25-year-old’s pace and direct running have made him a key part of Xabi Alonso’s high-flying side.
- Gift Orban (Lyon,$1.94m)
Gift Orban, a rising star at French Ligue 1 outfit Lyon, takes home £,$1.94m a year.
The 22-year-old forward burst onto the scene with a remarkable goal-scoring feat in the Belgian Pro League at Gent before securing his move to the Ligue 1.
The young striker’s goal-scoring exploits have already made him a fan favourite at the French club after he scored three late goals in their domestic cup run to take them to the final, where they lost to PSG last season.
- Cyriel Dessers (Rangers, $1.81m)
Cyriel Dessers is a striker with Glasgow Rangers, earning $1.81m annually.
The 29-year-old forward has played across multiple European leagues, including Italy and the Netherlands, where he was top scorer in the Eredivisie and in the Europa League for Feyenoord.
Dessers’ ability to find the back of the net has made him a key addition to Rangers.
- Umar Sadiq (Real Sociedad, $1.32m)
Umar Sadiq, a 27-year-old striker, earns $ 1.32 monthly on the Spanish La Liga side Real Sociedad.
The tall and powerful forward has made a name for himself in Spain, first with Almeria and now with Real Sociedad. His ability to hold up play and score crucial goals has made him an important asset for the Basque club as they compete in both La Liga and European competitions.
- Isaac Success (Udinese, $1.21m)
Isaac Success, a 28-year-old forward, takes home $ 1.21m per year at Italian Serie A club Udinese.
The versatile attacker, who can play across the front line, has found a stable home in Italy after his time in England with Watford. Success’s strength and technical ability have made him a useful player for Udinese as they navigate the highly Italian topflight.
- Odion Ighalo (Al-Wehda, $1.10m)
Veteran striker Odion Ighalo continues to earn handsomely even though he is in the twilight of his career, with an annual salary of $1.10m at Al-Wehda in Saudi Arabia.
The former Manchester United forward remains one of Nigeria’s most successful exports, having enjoyed a prolific stint in Asia.
- William Troost-Ekong (PAOK $1.08m)
William Troost-Ekong, a reliable central defender, was earning £$1.08m per year at PAOK before securing a move to the Saudi Pro League last week.
The 31-year-old has been a consistent presence for the Super Eagles and brings leadership and experience to his club side.
- Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, $1.00m)
Terem Moffi is one of Ligue 1’s exciting strikers, with an annual wage of $1.00m at OGC Nice.
The 25-year-old forward has made a name for himself with his goal-scoring exploits in France, consistently finding the back of the net for both Lorient and Nice.
- Peter Olayinka (Red Star Belgrade, $0.87m)
Peter Olayinka is an established forward who earns $0.87m) annually at Serbian his Serbian club.
The 28-year-old has enjoyed success in Eastern Europe, particularly during his time at Slavia Prague, where he was a notable protagonist of their domestic dominance.
- Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, $0.87m)
Zaidu, 26, earns $0.87m annually at Portuguese giants FC Porto, where he has been a regular feature at left-back for Porto since joining in 2020.
His defensive solidity and attacking contributions have made him one of Portugal’s top full-backs, as they compete at the highest levels in Portugal and Europe.
@punchng
celebrity radar - gossips
CELEBRATING A DISTINGUISHED STATESMAN: AMB. DR. BEN U.W. AMADI HONORED ON HIS BIRTHDAY FOR LEGACY OF VISIONARY LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE
*CELEBRATING A DISTINGUISHED STATESMAN: AMB. DR. BEN U.W. AMADI HONORED ON HIS BIRTHDAY FOR LEGACY OF VISIONARY LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE
*Global* – Colleagues, dignitaries, and citizens across nations today join in celebrating *Amb. Dr. Ben U.W. Amadi*, Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Atlantis, as he marks another year of impactful life and service on this special day.
#### *A LEADER DEFINED BY EXCELLENCE AND SERVICE*
Described by peers as a remarkable personality and visionary leader, Amb. Dr. Amadi’s unwavering commitment to excellence, leadership, and service continues to inspire many across nations. His tenure as Deputy Prime Minister has been characterized by strategic diplomacy, principled governance, and a relentless pursuit of progress for the people of the United Kingdom of Atlantis and its international partners.
#### *A LEGACY OF WISDOM, CHARACTER, AND PROGRESS*
Those who have had the privilege of knowing and working with Amb. Dr. Amadi point to his wisdom, strength of character, and passion for progress as defining qualities. Under his stewardship, initiatives focused on cultural advancement, information integrity, and cross-border collaboration have gained significant momentum.
“His leadership is not measured only in policy, but in people transformed,” said a senior official from the Ministry of Information & Culture. “He leads with clarity, compassion, and an unshakable commitment to the greater good.”
#### *HONORING YEARS LIVED AND LIVES TOUCHED*
On this auspicious occasion, tributes are pouring in from diplomatic circles, civil society, and the private sector, honoring not just the years he has lived, but the lives he has touched, the legacy he is building, and the greatness that lies ahead.
From youth mentorship to international alliances, Amb. Dr. Amadi’s influence extends beyond titles. His work continues to shape discourse around sovereign dignity, cultural heritage, and responsible leadership in the 21st century.
#### *STATEMENT FROM THE OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER*
While no formal statement has been issued by Amb. Dr. Amadi today, his office conveyed gratitude for the outpouring of goodwill and reaffirmed his dedication to the mandate of service entrusted to him by the United Kingdom of Atlantis and its citizens worldwide.
#### *ABOUT AMB. DR. BEN U.W. AMADI*
Amb. Dr. Ben U.W. Amadi serves as Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Atlantis. He is widely recognized as a distinguished diplomat, strategist, and advocate for cultural and information advancement. His leadership philosophy centers on excellence, ethical governance, and building institutions that outlive individuals.
celebrity radar - gossips
WITH LOVE TO WAZIRI by Chief Femi Fani-Kayode
WITH LOVE TO WAZIRI by Chief Femi Fani-Kayode
“I will not respond to Kashim Shettima because he is disrespectful. I am older than him and I have more experience in governance than he does, so I will not respond to him. It is not part of our tradition in the North to disrespect elders. You cannot look at someone who is senior to you in both age and accomplishments and start taunting him. That is not our tradition, so I won’t engage with him.”- Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Wazirin Adamawa, 13th April 2026.
My dear Waziri,
You know I love you very much and have expressed admiration for your efforts from time to time over the last 36 years since I have known you.
You will recall that we first met under the auspices of the now defunct September Club in 1989.
You attended our meeting as a mentee and loyalist of the late and great General Shehu Musa Yar’adua who we all reverred, loved and admired. It was a great event and those of us that hosted you and the General, despite being so young at the time, learnt so much from his wisdom and experience and your unalloyed and abiding devotion and loyalty towards him which was glaring for all to see.
Despite that, I am constrained to write the following.
With the utmost respect and in spite of your cultural sensitivities permit me to remind you of the following and to offer some unsolicited counsel.
You said you cannot answer Vice President Kashim Shettima because he is disrespectful and because you are older and far more experienced than him.
That is strange coming from you because I seem to recall that between 1999 and 2007 when we were in power you openly insulted, disrespected and led a full scale rebellion and unrelenting mutiny against President Obasanjo who was not only your boss and our leader but who also had far more working experience than you and was much older.
The only reason you cannot answer Kashim is because you have nothing to say, you have no answer to his challenge and finally, unlike you ever were or could be, he is totally and completely loyal to his principal and our leader President Tinubu.
As Vice President you could not find the courage to do same. As a matter of fact from day one of the 8 years that you were VP till the day we left office you were plotting to remove OBJ from his seat with the help of other dissidents and make yourself President. What could be more disrespectful than that to an elder or anyone else.
I am a living witness to the whole thing and I am pleased to say that you failed.
Please do not invoke age and experience as a reason for not responding to others when they criticise you. You forfeited that right long ago.
It takes courage and character to be loyal. Kashim has that courage and character but you never did.
Outside of this I wish you well in your endeavours sir and I hope and pray that you can resolve the grave challenges you are facing in your party so that you can meet us in the field of battle and we can trounce you at the polls in 2027.
Permit me to conclude with the following observations.
You said the following to Charles Aniagolu of Arise Television yesterday:
“I know Goodluck Jonathan very well, he is a decent young man but also inexperienced, which contributed to his failure to manage the affairs of the country”.
You refer to a man that has lived on the earth for 68 years and that has had the privilege of not just enjoying the position you once attained as Vice President but also went further than you to become President as a “young man”?
I am astounded by the sheer arrogance of your words.
This is all the more so given the fact that you are only 11 years older than him if reports about your age are to be believed.
You went further by saying that Jonathan was “inexperienced” and “he failed”?
You forgot that during Jonathan’s time Nigeria had the fastest growing economy on the African continent and did so much more but I leave it to his former Government officials and Ministers to defend his record in public office and prevent you from distorting and revising history and attempting to rubbish that record.
What I will say though, as the Director of Jonathan’s Media Presidential Campaign Organisation in 2015, is that he was a loyal Vice President to President Umaru Yar’adua and that he never betrayed his principal, coveted the latters office or tried to rubbish his legacy.
I can also attest to the fact that he was not only humane, gentle, restrained, kind and compassionate to a fault as a leader but that he also did his very best as President at a difficult time when bombs were being dropped all over the North in order to discredit and destroy him and his Government by the usual suspects just as they are attempting to do to Tinubu today in an attempt to bring him down.
Jonathan also displayed virtues of leadership and decency towards his followers the likes of which you cannot possibly imagine, match or emulate.
Through thick and thin even during the most challenging years when many of us faced savage and unrelenting persecution he abandoned none and he stuck by his friends and supporters which is more than I can say for most leaders.
These qualities cannot be taken away from him by anyone, least of all your goodself.
When a man that is incapable of trust, loyalty or fidelity runs down a man like Jonathan who embodies and epitomises all three it is not only painful but also unacceptable and even if the whole world sits by quietly and allows you to get away with it I will not.
I am glad that the Center for Responsible Governance (CRG) responded to you effectively on this issue and defended the honor of Jonathan and I subscribe to all that they said in their communique. I commend them and I salute their courage.
Most important of all is the fact that Jonathan had the courage and decency to walk away from power and hand it to President Buhari on a platter of gold after he lost the election in 2015.
If nothing else you must at least commend him for that.
Given your obsession with power and craving for it, I wonder whether you would have done the same.
It is obvious that despite all your efforts to cobble your platform together you are already anticipating a crushing defeat in next years election and your grave fears and desperate disposition are betrayed by the words you spoke at your so-called party Convention a few days ago where you said the following.
“It is clear that INEC is being used in this country. Let the Federal Government know that we fought the military to bring democracy to this country and we will f!ght the Federal Government to restore democracy.”
You can smell your defeat coming and you know that your ambition to be President of our country is slowly melting away like an iceberg that is approaching the tropics.
Like the mighty ship they called the Titanic your ambitions are about to crash and sink and you are already looking for excuses and threatening fire and brimstone.
Please do those of us that care for you and that respect you a favour by learning to lose with dignity and accepting the virtue of humility because all power comes from God.
When you lose, and lose you will, it will not be because of INEC but because you are running against a man that is far better than you in every shape and form and every way and manner.
It is also because God resists the proud and exalts the humble.
Please leave INEC out of it and prepare to accept the failure that is your portion and that is coming your way.
As for your threats to “fight the Federal Government” when the inevitable happens I can only say that good luck to you and advise you that at your distinguished old age you should know far better.
Whichever way I doubt anyone is losing any sleep over your threats because your assertions and allegations against INEC are not only baseless but also utterly (forgive me for using these words) asinine and nonsensical.
Outside of that they are also very dangerous and may affect the stability and peace of our nation which is precisely what you are attempting to achieve.
I advise you to desist from this reckless course sir and shun those around you that are advising you to tread it because it will not augur well for you or for them.
You are a respected democrat and not a lawless anarchist who seeks to scatter the entire table and pull down the entire house simply because you cannot have your way.
That is not you and you are far better than that. When you lose, kindly take it in good faith, move on and either try again in 2031 or retire from politics accepting that God never intended you to be President.
There is absolutely no shame in that because you have already achieved so much and established a strong and enviable legacy.
Please do not destroy it all out of blind ambition and the desire to get what God has chosen not to give you.
Nigeria has been good to you. Please do not try to set her on fire.
Back to the point.
My dear Waziri, both Kashim Shettima and Goodluck Jonathan were loyal to their bosses and you were incapable of doing the same.
That is where the story begins and ends. Ambition is like a drug that blinds and kills slowly.
I am sorry to say that this affliction has seized you since 1993 and appears to have become even more pronounced today otherwise you would not even dream of opposing the candidacy of President Bola Tinubu after all he did for you over the years after you were driven out of the PDP for your treacher in tatters and disgrace in 2014.
Both the late President Muhammadu Buhari and Tinubu housed you in their new party at the time, rehabilitated you and gave you a new lease of political life only for you to leave them, go back to PDP and oppose them by running against their party for the Presidency six years later in 2019.
Not only that, after you lost the 2019 election you thoroughly destroyed the same PDP that took you back, forgave you and gave you a platform to run on by dividing the party along regional, religious and ethnic lines.
You violated and destroyed its zoning formula by insisting that its presidential candidate (which of course had to be your goodself) must again come from the North in 2023 and you attempted to truncate, destroy and bury the aspirations, political career and trajectory of men like Governor Nyesome Wike who had not only funded the party for years but had welcomed you back into its ranks with open arms in 2017 and supported you for the Presidency in 2019.
Forgive me for saying so but loyalty and commitment to a collective and common cause does not appear to be your forte sir.
The Bible says “He who repays good with evil, evil will never leave his house”.
I do not wish you or yours evil but kindly consider this.
Both Goodluck and Kashim repaid their boss’s good with good whilst you repaid your boss Obasanjo’s good with evil and that is precisely why they have risen and will continue to rise to greater heights than you ever will.
Finally in the same interview with Charles Aniagolu you said the following about your colleagues in your factional ADC party.
“Kwankwaso, El Rufai and Tambuwal are not as popular as I am”.
Again forgive me for saying so but the truth is that you have displayed such a lack of humility, such arrogance and such a glaring display of hubris with these words.
I wonder how those three names you mentioned all feel about what you have said about their popularity or lack of it.
Clearly this is the beginning of the disintegration of the ADC.
By the time this is all over you may well end up having ten factions in your party and not just three.
One thing is clear in all this and that is the fact that you sir are loyal to your ambition and to no-one and nothing else.
It is only a matter of time before your new found friends in the ADC appreciate that and see you for who and what you really are.
I come in peace and I wish you well sir.
(Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, the author of this essay, is an Ambassador Designate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a former Minister of Aviation, a former Minister of Culture and Tourism, a former Special Advisor to President Olusegun Obasanjo on Public Affairs, the Sadaukin Shinkafi, the Wakilin Doka Potiskum, the Otunba of Joga Orile, the Aare Ajagunla of Otun Ekiti and a Legal Practioner)
celebrity radar - gossips
‘Mojoyin Fadaka: A Quietly Rising Voice in Nollywood*
*Mojoyin Fadaka: A Quietly Rising Voice in Nollywood*
Since her debut in 2023, Mojoyin Fadaka has been carving out a steady path in Nollywood—one defined less by noise and more by intention. Rather than chasing visibility, she focuses on growth, craft, and understanding the depth of each role she takes on.
Trained at Del York Creative Academy and KAP Film and Television Academy, Mojoyin built her foundation on discipline as much as talent. For her, acting is not just performance but preparation and emotional awareness—an approach that continues to shape her work across film and television.
Her growing filmography includes titles such as *Instead Of Love*, *Crazy Wives*, *Campus Queen*, *The Last Paycheck*, and *Between The Rails*. Across these projects, she has worked with respected figures in the industry while steadily expanding her range and screen presence.
Beyond acting, Mojoyin also explores storytelling through writing, a passion that influences how she interprets characters. She is drawn to roles that feel authentic and meaningful, avoiding shallow portrayals in favor of emotional depth and purpose.
Her versatility is further strengthened by her ability to perform in English, Yoruba, and Pidgin, with ongoing efforts to learn Igbo. She is also developing physical skills like boxing and swimming to broaden her adaptability for future roles.
Influenced by performers such as Viola Davis and Kehinde Bankole, Mojoyin describes her approach as instinctive—focused on allowing emotion rather than forcing it.
As Nollywood continues to expand, she remains focused on consistency over pressure, growth over speed. For Mojoyin Fadaka, the journey is not about rushing ahead, but building something lasting—one role at a time.
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