With the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in full swing, several of the continent's stars have completed transfers in Europe this month. Here's a look at the five most expensive African signings that have been confirmed in January so far!
Less than a week remains before the European transfer window draws to a close.
Read: Explained: Why EPL giants are not signing players this January
Admittedly, it has been a relatively quiet window in terms of blockbuster signings, with a number of top teams seemingly showing a reluctance to sign players this month.
Many deals have been confirmed, though, with several African players involved in some mouthwatering transfers, so we decided to look at the five most expensive of them all so far in this window, as per Transfermarkt.
1. Gift Orban (Nigeria) - €12 million
The Nigerian striker recently completed a €12 million (R247 million) transfer from Belgian side KAA Gent to Olympique Lyon. "The transfer fee is €12 million, to which a maximum of €8 million (R164 million) in bonuses may be added, as well as a 20% interest on any capital gains from the transfer", Lyon announced in an official statement. The striker, who is yet to be capped by the Super Eagles, spent just one year with the Belgium outfit, registering an impressive 32 goals and two assists in 52 matches for the club. The 21-year-old penned a four-and-a-half-year deal until June 2028 with the French giants.
2. Shavy Babicka (Gabon) - €2.75 million (R57 million)
Comme révélé dans la presse il y a quelques jours, le Toulouse Football Club annonce une transaction imminente. #DeboutToujours ?? #Mercato ?? pic.twitter.com/8gPzsIZqWQ
— Toulouse FC (@ToulouseFC) January 18, 2024
Gabon international Shavy Babicka has joined Ligue 1 side Toulouse from Aris Limassol, where he played alongside Bafana Bafana star Mihlali Mayambela. The move set the French club back by €2.75 million (R57 million). The 23-year-old winger impressed for Limassol in the group stage of this season's UEFA Europa League, where he registered three goals in five appearances, including strikes against Scottish giants Rangers both home and away. He spent two-and-a-half seasons with the Cypriot team, registering 16 goals and 22 assists in 90 matches.
3. Martin Hongla (Cameroon) - €2.70 million (R55 million)
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— Granada CF ???? (@GranadaCF) January 18, 2024
Matteo Hongla #?????????????????????? ???? pic.twitter.com/74B0LVZ3m3
The Cameroon midfielder signed a three-and-half-year deal with Spanish top-flight team Granada on 12 January, costing the LALIGA outfit a fee of €2.70 million (R55 million). Shortly before his move from Hellas Verona, Hongla was snubbed for the Indomitable Lions' AFCON 2023 squad, despite having previously made 22 appearances for his country. The transfer also marks a return to Granada after he represented the side at youth level before he was sold in 2018.
4. Moses Usor (Nigeria) - €2 million (R41 million)
The uncapped Nigerian sealed a €2 million (R41 million) move from Czech powerhouses Sparta Prague to Austrian side LASK. The 21-year-old was initially in Austria on loan but the club decided to make the deal permanent, and the winger has signed a contract until June 2028, indicating how highly they rate him. "Moses Usor has developed very strongly in the last few months. We are pleased that he chose us and that we were able to retain a young player with enormous potential for the long term," sports director Radovan Vujanovic told the club's official website.
5. El Hadji Malick Diouf (Senegal) - €1.7 million (R35 million)
Senegalese teenager El Hadji Malick Diouf joined Sparta Prague earlier this month in a deal worth €1.7 million (R35 million) from Tromso IL in Norway. The 19-year-old is highly rated by many, having only recently made the jump to Europe, in February 2023 after developing at the Academy Mawade Wade in Senegal. The left-back made 21 appearances in his debut season in the Norwegian top flight, registering three goals and one assist in the process to earn himself the transfer to the Czech giants.
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