English club Manchester City announced today, Thursday, the signing of Egyptian international Omar Marmoush from German club Eintracht Frankfurt on a contract lasting until the summer of 2029, for a period of 4 and a half years.
Marmoush, who is 25 years old, became the most expensive Arab player in history, surpassing Moroccan Achraf Hakimi and Algerian Riyad Mahrez. British media outlets estimated his transfer to Manchester City at around 70 million euros plus 6 million euros in add-ons.
Here are the top 10 most expensive Arab and African players of all time, according to Transfermarkt:
1. Ivorian Pepe to Arsenal (80 million euros)
Pepe joined Arsenal in 2019 for a deal nearing 80 million euros, becoming the most expensive African player in history.
2. Nigerian Victor Osimhen to Napoli (77.5 million euros)
Victor Osimhen moved to Italian team Napoli in the 2020 season from French club Lille for 77.5 million euros.
3. Egyptian Omar Marmoush to Manchester City (75 million euros)
Today, Omar Marmoush moved to Manchester City for 70 million euros plus 5 million euros in add-ons, becoming the most expensive Arab player in history.
4. Moroccan Achraf Hakimi to Paris Saint-Germain (68 million euros)
Achraf Hakimi transferred to French team Paris Saint-Germain from Italian club Inter Milan in 2021 for 68 million euros, becoming the most expensive Arab player at the time.
5. Algerian Riyad Mahrez to Manchester City (67.8 million euros)
Riyad Mahrez moved from Leicester City to Manchester City in the summer of 2018 for 67.8 million euros, which was the club's most expensive signing at the time.
6. Gabonese Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Arsenal (63.7 million euros)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang moved from Borussia Dortmund to English club Arsenal in the 2017 season for 63.7 million euros.
7. Guinean Naby Keita to Liverpool (60 million euros)
Naby Keita transferred from German club RB Leipzig to English club Liverpool in the 2019 season for 60 million euros.
8. Cameroonian André Onana to Manchester United (50.2 million euros)
André Onana joined Manchester United in 2023 from Italian club Inter Milan for 50.3 million euros.
9. Ghanaian Thomas Partey to Arsenal (50 million euros)
Thomas Partey moved to Arsenal in the 2021 season from Spanish club Atlético Madrid for 50 million euros.
10. Egyptian Mohamed Salah to Liverpool (42 million euros)
Mohamed Salah moved from Italian club Roma to Liverpool in the summer of 2017 for 42 million euros. He is considered one of the most expensive Arab and African players in history and one of the best players in the Premier League.