Bakambu Breaks African Transfer Record, Top Ten Most Expensive Nigerian Players Transfers In Spain

Villarreal striker Cedric Bakambu finally completed his move to Chinese Super League club  Beijing Guoan on the final day of the transfer window on February 28.

If tax obligations are included, Bakambu's move to the capital outfit cost £65.4 million (approximately N32.4 billion in Nigerian currency), meaning the Congolese is now the most expensive African player in history as the total transfer fees is more than the £56 million Arsenal paid Borussia Dortmund for the services of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the January transfer window.

Cedric Bakambu cost approximately five times more than the most expensive Nigerian player transfer involving a Spanish club, with Watford paying Granada £13.50m before capturing Isaac Success in the summer of 2016.

Champions League winner Finidi George's switch from Ajax Amsterdam to Real Betis cost £9 million, and it's the second most expensive transfer, followed by Ikechukwu Uche, who joined Real Zaragoza from Getafe for £4.95m.

Ikechukwu Uche's transfers appeared in the top ten three times and his brother, Kalu Uche's move from Espanyol to Kasimpasa is ninth on the list with the Turkish club paying £1.35m when he joined in the 2012-13 season.

Top Ten Most Expensive Nigerian Players Transfers Involving Spanish Clubs

1) Isaac Success - Granada to Watford - £13.50m
2) Finidi George - Ajax to Real Betis - £9.0m
3) Ikechukwu Uche - Getafe to Real Zaragoza - £4.95m
4) Ikechukwu Uche - Real Zaragoza to Villarreal - £4.50m
5) Finidi George - Real Betis to Ipswich - ££3.78m
6) Ikechukwu Uche - Villarreal to Tigres - £3.15m
7) Obafemi Martins - Levante to Sounders - £2.70m
8) Sunday Stephen - Poli Ejido to Valencia - £1.62m
9) Kalu Uche - Espanyol to Kasimpasa - £1.35m
10) Nosa Igiebor - Hapoel Tel Aviv to Real Betis - £0.99m

Ifeanyi Emmanuel