Many of the biggest African stars will be in hot demand during the summer window. Some of the continent’s top performers are out of contract and searching for new clubs.
Here are the top 10 African players who could make transfers.
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1. Mohamed Salah – The Egyptian king with plenty left to give
With Egypt reaching the round of 16 at the World Cup, Mohamed Salah has had bigger priorities than finding a new club. He is now a free agent following a disappointing final season at Liverpool.
Salah registered 29 goals and 18 assists as recently as the 2024/25 Premier League campaign. However, the Reds’ attack lacked balance last season, which contributed to the 34-year-old managing only 14 goal contributions.
With the right players around him and in a better structure, Salah could thrive again. As the best Arab footballer of his generation, a switch to the Saudi Pro League looks most likely.
2. Carlos Baleba – The Cameroonian star ready for a big move
The most expensive African player transfer this summer could involve Carlos Baleba. The 22-year-old is widely regarded as one of the brightest young defensive midfielders in the Premier League.
Manchester United are long-time admirers of Baleba. The Cameroonian would be a natural replacement for Casemiro, although Brighton could demand a fee of more than £70m.
3. Yan Diomandé – Talented teenager set for the next step
RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomandé is also featuring regularly in African players transfer news this summer. The 19-year-old was one of the breakout stars in last season’s Bundesliga, registering 12 goals and eight assists in 33 appearances.
The teenager added to his growing reputation by averaging 2.8 key passes and 2.5 dribbles per game at the World Cup for Ivory Coast. He’s attracting interest from Liverpool and PSG.
4. Victor Osimhen – Nigerian goal machine still in hot demand
Barely a summer goes by without Victor Osimhen being the subject of transfer speculation. That’s despite him making a €75m move from Napoli to Galatasaray only last year.
Osimhen is one of the best strikers in the world, and he managed seven goals in 10 Champions League outings during the 2025/26 season. The likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Barcelona would all benefit from a striker of his calibre, but his current employers would demand a massive fee.
5. Samuel Chukwueze – Winger seeking permanent switch
Another Nigerian who could be on the move is Samuel Chukwueze. The winger has returned to AC Milan after a year on loan at Fulham.
The Premier League club opted against the option to buy the player. Chukwueze has since turned down a transfer to Trabzonspor, but a return to Fulham on a cut-price deal is not out of the question.
6. Franck Kessié – Free agent considering European return
It’s only a few years ago that Franck Kessié would have made any list of best African players. He signed a long-term deal at Barcelona in the summer of 2022, but failed to become a key figure for the Catalan giants and joined Al-Ahli in 2023.
After three solid years in the Saudi Pro League, Kessié is a free agent and attracting major interest from Serie A, with Juventus leading the chase. He may need to take a pay cut to return to Italy, where he previously thrived for Milan.
7. Lamine Camara – Monaco man attracting Premier League interest
One rising African star who looks set for a big transfer is Lamine Camara. The central midfielder averaged 2.2 tackles and 1.7 clearances per game for Monaco in last season’s Champions League.
Liverpool, Newcastle and Brighton are leading the chase for the Senegalese international. The 22-year-old started all three group games for the Lions de la Teranga at the World Cup.
8. Omar Marmoush – A fresh chapter awaits after a wasted campaign
Despite scoring a hat-trick only three weeks after signing for Manchester City in early 2025, Omar Marmoush has quickly fallen out of favour at the Etihad Stadium. He registered just three goals in 21 league appearances last term.
The English club’s decision to hire Enzo Maresca as Pep Guardiola’s replacement is unlikely to open any new doors for Marmoush. Tottenham are already showing an interest in the £50m-rated forward.
9. Thomas Partey – Midfielder looking to put Villarreal struggles behind him
While he no longer ranks among the best African players, Thomas Partey can still improve many midfields. That will only be the case if he recovers his best form, after a miserable season in Spain saw the Ghanaian make just eight league starts for Villarreal.
The ongoing legal case against Partey in the UK will make it harder for him to find a new club. However, he has previously been linked with moves to Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
10. Yves Bissouma – Mali man in need of a new start
Another midfielder in need of a fresh beginning is Yves Bissouma. He looked set to become one of the best African players when he joined Tottenham for around £25m in 2022. However, he is now a free agent after a mixed spell in North London.
Bissouma averaged a respectable 1.6 tackles per game in last season’s Premier League, while completing 88% of his passes. As a proven ball-winner, he would be a good signing for many other clubs in England’s top flight, but a new adventure abroad may appeal.
With nearly two months to go until the transfer window shuts, there is still plenty of time for these 10 African stars to find new clubs. Activity is sure to increase over the coming weeks as the 2026/27 season approaches.
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Bonus Pick: Vozinha – Cape Verde’s World Cup hero weighing his next move
Few players did more for their reputation at the World Cup than Cape Verde’s Josimar José Évora Dias, better known as Vozinha. The 40-year-old goalkeeper made eight saves in a 3-2 extra-time defeat to Argentina in the round of 32, having already kept clean sheets against Spain and Saudi Arabia in the group stage.
Vozinha is now a free agent after his contract with Portuguese second-tier side GD Chaves expired at the end of June. Inter Miami have been linked with a move, with Portuguese outlet Record reporting exploratory talks, though no contract has been agreed.
A move to Lionel Messi’s club would likely see him play a back-up role behind current number one Dayne St. Clair, but his experience and newfound global profile, built on a rise to over 19 million Instagram followers during the tournament, would still make him a notable free-agent pickup.