African football will soon have a new record transfer.
Yan Diomande is closing in on a blockbuster move from RB Leipzig to Real Madrid, with the deal reportedly worth between €120 million and €130 million.
If completed at those figures, the 19-year-old Ivory Coast international would comfortably become the most expensive African footballer of all time, overtaking some of the continent’s biggest stars.
After a breakout Bundesliga campaign and an impressive World Cup, Diomande’s stock has skyrocketed. But who else features among African football’s biggest-ever transfers?
1. Yan Diomande – RB Leipzig to Real Madrid – Up to €130m
The new record holder, if everything goes to plan.
Diomande enjoyed a spectacular breakthrough season with RB Leipzig, registering 12 goals and nine assists before further enhancing his reputation with Ivory Coast at the World Cup.
Paris Saint-Germain had initially been in pole position for his signature, but reportedly withdrew after Leipzig refused to lower their asking price.
That opened the door for Real Madrid.
The Spanish giants are now closing in on a deal reportedly worth between €120m and €130m, which would put Diomande in a league of his own when it comes to African transfer fees.
And at just 19 years old, Madrid will hope they are investing in a superstar for the next decade.
2. Bryan Mbeumo – Brentford to Manchester United – Up to €81m
Diomande is set to take the record from Cameroon’s Bryan Mbeumo.
Manchester United moved for Mbeumo in the summer of 2025 following his outstanding performances for Brentford, eventually agreeing a package worth €75m plus €6m in potential bonuses.
The deal briefly made the Cameroon international the most expensive African footballer ever, but his stay at the top looks set to be a short one.
3. Nicolas Pépé – Lille to Arsenal – €80m
For several years, Nicolas Pépé was the name synonymous with Africa’s transfer record.
Arsenal paid Lille around €80m for the Ivory Coast winger in 2019 after a brilliant Ligue 1 campaign.
Expectations were enormous, but Pépé struggled to consistently reproduce his Lille form in North London.
Nevertheless, the size of the deal ensured he remained Africa’s record signing for years.
Diomande is now set to become the latest Ivorian to sit at the top of the list.
4. Victor Osimhen – Lille to Napoli – €78.9m
Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen features not once, but twice among Africa’s biggest transfers.
His first huge move came in 2020 when Napoli signed him from Lille for a reported €78.9m.
Unlike some big-money transfers, there could be few complaints about Osimhen’s impact on the pitch.
The Super Eagles striker developed into one of Europe’s most feared number nines and played a starring role as Napoli won their first Serie A title in more than three decades.
5. Victor Osimhen – Napoli to Galatasaray – €75m
Five years later, Osimhen was involved in another massive deal.
Following a prolific loan spell in Turkey, Galatasaray made his move permanent for €75m, smashing the Turkish transfer record in the process.
Osimhen had scored 37 goals and provided seven assists during his loan campaign, making the decision to invest heavily in the Nigerian an easy one for Galatasaray.
Two transfers worth more than €75m underline just how highly Osimhen has been valued during his career.
6. Omar Marmoush – Eintracht Frankfurt to Manchester City – €75m
Manchester City swooped for Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush in January 2025 after a sensational first half of the season in Germany.
His performances for Eintracht Frankfurt persuaded City to spend around €75m to bring him to the Premier League.
It made Marmoush one of the most expensive Egyptian players ever and placed him firmly among Africa’s biggest transfers.
7. Antoine Semenyo – Bournemouth to Manchester City – €72m
City returned to the African market a year later.
Antoine Semenyo’s superb performances for Bournemouth earned him a major move in January 2026, with City agreeing a deal worth around €72m for the Ghana international.
Semenyo wasted little time making his mark, scoring 11 goals and providing three assists during his first six months at the Etihad.
8. Achraf Hakimi – Inter Milan to PSG – €68m
Paris Saint-Germain invested heavily to bring Achraf Hakimi to France in 2021.
The Moroccan right-back joined from Inter Milan in a deal worth around €68m including bonuses, making him one of the most expensive defenders in African football history.
Hakimi has since established himself as one of the world’s leading players in his position, making PSG’s considerable investment look increasingly worthwhile.
9. Riyad Mahrez – Leicester City to Manchester City – €67.8m
Before Pépé, Osimhen and Mbeumo came along, Riyad Mahrez held the African transfer record.
Manchester City paid approximately €67.8m to sign the Algerian from Leicester City in 2018.
Mahrez arrived as a Premier League winner and went on to enjoy a trophy-laden spell at the Etihad, winning multiple league titles and the Champions League.
10. Mohammed Kudus – West Ham to Tottenham – €64m
Completing the top 10 is Ghana star Mohammed Kudus.
After originally arriving in England with West Ham from Ajax, Kudus moved across London to Tottenham in the summer of 2025 for around €64m.
His versatility and Premier League experience convinced Spurs to invest heavily, placing him alongside some of Ghana’s most valuable football exports.
With less than a month to go until the window slams shut, there are still plenty of huge moves to be made this summer! Back your predictions by getting involved with Bet9ja’s Transfer Specials.
