Former Watford striker Odion Ighalo broke the transfer fee record for a Nigerian player following his move to Chinese Super League club Changchun Yatai for a fee of 23.3 million euros.

The former record, which stood for eleven years, was previously held by ex-Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel after the Blues splashed out €20m to secure his services from Lyn Oslo, with Manchester United also compensated.

The third and fourth most expensive transfers involving Nigerian players were completed in the last seven months, with Premier League champs Leicester City signing Ahmed Musa and Wilfred Ndidi for €19.5 million and €17.6 million respectively.

When ex-Super Eagles star, Yakubu Aiyegbeni joined Everton ten years ago, the Toffees paid Middlesbrough 16.5 million euros.

The transfers of Obafemi Martins (Newcastle), Isaac Success (Watford), Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce), Brown Ideye (West Brom) and Austin Okocha (PSG) complete the top ten most expensive Nigerian transfers.

Nigerian Transfer Record (Top 20)

1) Odion Ighalo - Watford to Changchun Yatai- €23.3m
2) Obi Mikel - Lyn Oslo to Chelsea - €20m
3) Ahmed Musa - CSKA to Leicester - €19.5m
4) Wilfred Ndidi - Genk to Leicester - €17.6m
5) Yakubu Aiyegbeni - Boro to Everton - €16.5m
6) Obafemi Martins - Inter to Newcastle - €16m
7) Isaac Success - Granada to Watford - €15m
8) Emmanuel Emenike - Spartak to Fenerbahce - €13m
9) Brown Ideye - Dynamo Kiev to WBA - €12.63m
10) Austin Okocha - Fenerbahce to PSG - €12.4
11) Taribo West - Auxerre to Inter - €12m
12) Victor Moses - Wigan to Chelsea - €11.5m
13) Anthony Ujah - Werder to Liaoning FC - €11.5m
14) Obafemi Martins - Newcastle to Wolfsburg - €10.5m
15) Sunday Oliseh - Ajax to Juventus - €10m
      John Utaka - Rennes to Portsmouth - €10m
      Peter Odemwingie- Lille to Lok Moscow - €10m
      Finidi George - Ajax to Real Betis - €10m
      Emmanuel Emenike - Fenerbahce to Spartak - €10m
 20) Yakubu Aiyegbeni - Portsmouth to Boro - €9.75m

Ifeanyi Emmanuel