The 10 Premier League’s Top African Talent

If there is one thing the Premier League is good at, it is finding the best soccer talent from all over the world and bringing it to England.

That’s especially true when it comes to Africa, with so many of the league’s current and past players hailing from this continent.

Here are some of the top players that have come from this region, and how they have made their mark on the sport.

Kolo Toure

Hailing from the Ivory Coat, Toure made his way to the Premier League as a signing for Arsenal. It’s not just arsenal he played for though, as he also played for both Manchester and Liverpool before he left the league entirely in 2016. During his time on the pitch, he made a name for himself as one of the best defenders in his generation.

Once he did leave the league, he then left his playing career entirely and then became a coach. He has lent his talents to Celtic, as well as Leicester City and Wigan Athletic.

Samuel Eto'o

Arriving in England with a reputation as one of Africa's greatest footballers, Samuel Eto'o wasted no time showcasing his talent on the grand stage.

From his days at Chelsea to his stint with Everton, Eto'o's presence on the pitch was electrifying.

With 35 games played, the Cameroonian was so flamboyant that he scored 12 goals and made 3 assists during his short spell.

Didier Drogba

From his thunderous strikes to his towering presence on the pitch, Didier Drogba's journey in the Premier League is nothing short of iconic.

The Ivorian striker left an indelible mark on English football, etching his name into the hearts of fans worldwide.

Arriving at Chelsea in 2004, Drogba wasted no time in showcasing his immense talent. In over 200 games the Ivorian scored over 100 goals and 33 assists for thr Blues and had what many have categorized today as one of the most successful footballing career for an African in the Premier League.

Nwankwo Kanu

"Papilo" as he is fondly called is arguably one of Africa's biggest talent export to the Premier League.

The Nigerian international had a career many would view as enviable for an African as he played for some of the top sides in the Premier League.

His spell at Arsenal remains one for the books and one that it's history can't be distorted following his crucial role in earning the Gunners one of the Premier League titles.

Jay-Jay Okocha

Nigerian player Okocha is very much remembered as one of the most entertaining players of his era. Being a part of the Bolton Wanderers in the early 2000s, he was able to really shine and perhaps be their most talented player depending on who you ask.

During his time with the Wanderers, he made 124 appearances and 14 goals, grabbing one player of the month award in November 2003.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Aubameyang was a versatile player during his time in the Premier League.  He played for both Arsenal and Chelsea during his time with the league, and has a record of 69 goals. Having played  s a central striker and a left winger, he was able to bring a lot to the game at other players couldn’t.

When he moved to Chelsea, he did start to struggle with just one goal in 15 different appearances. This is likely why he ended up making the move to go to Marseilles in 2023.

Riyad Mahrez

Many credit Mahrez with his assistance in the 2022/23 campaign that helped his team, Manchester City, secure their incredible treble. This is thanks to his play style where he was always ready to run at the opposing fullback, which would then allow for chances for himself and his team. Mahrez was favourited by many of the bookies and also appeared as the face of some big new betting names in their marketing campaigns.

He has also been a part of the Leicester City team, and was a part of the team who managed to win the Premier League title in 2016. He did eventually leave for Saudi Arabian team Al-Ahli in 2023, having five Premier League medals to his name. 

Sadio Mane

Mane, a Senegalese national, has actually been part of three different Premier League clubs in his career. He began his career at Southampton, where he managed to score the fastest ever Premier League hat trick in 2015. In fact, that record still stands this day.

He then moved on to Manchester United, before then going to Liverpool where he helped the team win their first leagues title in 30 years. He is actually the second highest scoring African player in the entire history after premier league, with 111 goals within 263 games. 

Yaya Toure

Toure signed with Manchester City in 2010, and at the time this felt like a real win for the club. He previously played for Barcelona, but many feel he wasn’t used to his best potential there. As such, it’s not really a surprise that he made the move to a Premier League team.

It’s clear that the move really suited him, as he has been really able to show off his technical skills on the pitch. He’s picked up many man of the match awards, and really brought a lot to every match he was a part of.

Mohamed Salah

Egyptian player Salah was initially signed to Chelsea, and at that time he did struggle to make a name for himself and find real success. That is why some were very confused at his signing to Liverpool, as they wondered what he would be able to bring the team.

However, that moves to Liverpool was clearly what he needed to really start showing off what he was capable of. Right now, he is the top scoring African player in Premier League history, and managed to get his 150^th goal in just 247 appearances. That makes him one of the top players in the Premier League overall, and he still isn’t done yet.

These are just a handful of the many African players who have made their way to the Premier League, and really shown what they are made of. There are both past and present players from the continent who have lent their talents to the English football scene, and delighted fans all over the country.

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