Africa’s football stars have been on the move—and some of the deals have been enormous.
The 2026 summer transfer window has already produced a string of major moves involving African players, from Yan Diomande’s record-breaking switch to Real Madrid to Mohamed Salah’s surprise move to Turkey.
With clubs across Europe reshaping their squads ahead of the 2026/27 season, several African internationals have also taken on new challenges in England, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Turkey.
Here are 10 notable transfers involving African players this summer.
1. Yan Diomande — RB Leipzig to Real Madrid
The biggest headline belongs to Yan Diomande.
The 19-year-old Ivorian winger completed a blockbuster move from RB Leipzig to Real Madrid after an outstanding breakthrough season in Germany.
Real Madrid have committed to a seven-year contract through 2033. The reported package could reach €135 million, including performance-related additions, potentially making the deal the most expensive in the club’s history.
Transfer: RB Leipzig → Real Madrid
Type: Permanent
Reported package: Up to €135 million
Nationality: Ivorian
Age: 19
Position: Winger
Diomande’s move also places him at the top of the list of the most expensive African football transfers.
2. Mohamed Salah — Liverpool to Trabzonspor
After nine seasons at Anfield, Mohamed Salah has begun a completely different chapter in Turkey.
The Egyptian forward joined Trabzonspor on a free transfer, signing a two-year contract. He left Liverpool after making 442 appearances and scoring 257 goals for the club, while winning major honours including two Premier League titles and the Champions League.
Transfer: Liverpool → Trabzonspor
Type: Free transfer
Contract: Two years
Nationality: Egyptian
Previous club: Liverpool
For Trabzonspor, this is one of the biggest signings in the club’s recent history. For Salah, it marks the end of one of the most successful African careers in Premier League history.
3. Ismael Saibari — PSV Eindhoven to Bayern Munich
Morocco international Ismael Saibari has taken the next step in his career by joining German champions Bayern Munich from PSV Eindhoven.
The 25-year-old attacking midfielder signed a contract running until June 2031. Reports put the transfer fee at around €50 million to €55 million.
Transfer: PSV Eindhoven → Bayern Munich
Type: Permanent
Reported fee: About €55 million
Nationality: Moroccan
Position: Attacking midfielder
Saibari arrives in Munich after establishing himself as an important attacking player for PSV and Morocco.
4. Zadok Yohanna — AIK to Brighton & Hove Albion
Nigerian teenager Zadok Yohanna has earned a Premier League move after impressing with Swedish club AIK.
Brighton agreed a five-year contract with the 18-year-old winger, taking him through to June 2031. The clubs did not officially disclose the fee, although reports have placed the deal at around £21.5 million.
Transfer: AIK → Brighton & Hove Albion
Type: Permanent
Reported fee: Around £21.5 million
Nationality: Nigerian
Age: 18
Position: Winger
Yohanna made 18 appearances for AIK in league and cup competition before the move, scoring five goals and supplying three assists.
5. Tolu Arokodare — Wolverhampton Wanderers to Ajax
Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare is heading to the Netherlands for the 2026/27 campaign.
Ajax agreed a season-long loan with Wolverhampton Wanderers, with an option for the Dutch club to make the transfer permanent.
Transfer: Wolves → Ajax
Type: Season-long loan
Permanent option: Included
Nationality: Nigerian
Age: 25
Ajax confirmed the agreement on July 29, with the loan running until summer 2027.
The move gives Arokodare another opportunity to establish himself after scoring six times in 38 appearances for Wolves last season.
6. Raphael Onyedika — Club Brugge to Eintracht Frankfurt
Nigeria midfielder Raphael Onyedika has moved to the Bundesliga after four seasons with Belgian club Club Brugge.
The 25-year-old defensive midfielder signed for Eintracht Frankfurt on a contract running until June 2031. He leaves Belgium as a two-time league champion and Belgian Cup winner.
Transfer: Club Brugge → Eintracht Frankfurt
Type: Permanent
Nationality: Nigerian
Age: 25
Position: Defensive midfielder
Frankfurt see Onyedika as an important addition to their midfield, particularly because of his defensive strength and consistency.
7. Gift Orban — Hoffenheim to Amedspor
Nigerian striker Gift Orban has moved to Turkey after leaving Hoffenheim on loan.
The forward joins newly promoted Amedspor for the season, with the agreement containing conditions that could make the transfer permanent. Reports indicate the deal includes a purchase obligation under specified conditions.
Transfer: Hoffenheim → Amedspor
Type: Season-long loan
Buy arrangement: Included
Nationality: Nigerian
Position: Striker
Orban spent the previous campaign on loan at Hellas Verona before making the switch to Turkey.
8. Kelechi Iheanacho — Celtic to Bursaspor
Kelechi Iheanacho has also chosen Turkey for the next stage of his career.
The Nigerian forward joined Bursaspor after leaving Celtic when his contract situation at the Scottish club was not extended.
Transfer: Celtic → Bursaspor
Type: Free transfer
Nationality: Nigerian
Previous club: Celtic
Iheanacho arrives after helping Celtic win a domestic double during the 2025/26 campaign. He scored nine goals during the season and has already made an encouraging start to life in Turkey.
9. Frank Onyeka — Brentford to Coventry City
Nigeria international Frank Onyeka has made his move to Coventry City permanent.
The midfielder initially joined Coventry on loan during the second half of the 2025/26 season. After helping the club secure promotion, the deal became permanent.
Transfer: Brentford → Coventry City
Type: Permanent
Nationality: Nigerian
Position: Central midfielder
Onyeka started 13 of his 14 Championship appearances during the promotion run, bringing considerable Premier League experience to Coventry’s squad.
10. Hamed Traorè — Bournemouth to Marseille
Ivorian midfielder Hamed Traorè is another player whose summer has involved a change of club.
However, this move needs an important correction: Traorè is not moving permanently from Bournemouth to Marseille in 2026. He had already been playing for Marseille on loan from Bournemouth during the previous campaign and subsequently moved on to another destination.
Reports indicate that Traorè agreed a move from Marseille to Genoa on loan with an option to buy, returning to Serie A.
Transfer: Marseille → Genoa
Type: Loan
Buy option: Reported
Nationality: Ivorian
Position: Midfielder
That makes Traorè the one player on this list whose original transfer description needed updating.
A Summer of Major Moves
The 2026 window has highlighted the growing presence of African talent across Europe’s biggest leagues.
There are blockbuster deals, such as Diomande’s move to Real Madrid, major free transfers like Salah’s switch to Trabzonspor, and opportunities for younger players such as Yohanna’s move to Brighton.
Then there are the players seeking a fresh platform.
Saibari has joined Bayern. Onyedika is heading to Frankfurt. Arokodare gets another opportunity with Ajax. Iheanacho and Orban are both taking on new challenges in Turkey.
For African football, the bigger story is clear:
The continent’s players are not simply changing clubs—they are increasingly moving into bigger roles, bigger markets and bigger stages.
