Iheanacho Is Most Expensive Nigerian, Chelsea Deals Make Top 20, Taribo Costliest Defender (Full List)

In less than seven months, the transfer record for a Nigerian player has been broken, after Kelechi Iheanacho completed his move to Leicester City on Thursday.

The Super Eagles striker appended his signature to a five-year contract with the Foxes, with City expected to pocket a minimum 27.7 million euros in transfer fees, but not taking into account performance related add-ons.

Kelechi Iheanacho surpassed the record previously held by former Watford star Odion Ighalo, who joined Changchun Yatai for €23.3m.

Before Ighalo had the honour of being the most expensive Nigerian player, it was held by ex-Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel for eleven years after the Blues splashed out €20m to secure his services from Lyn Oslo, with Manchester United also compensated.

The fourth and fifth most expensive transfers involving Nigerian players were completed in the last thirteen months.

Former Premier League champs Leicester City signed Ahmed Musa and Wilfred Ndidi for €19.5 million and €17.6 million respectively.

The costliest Nigerian defender in history is Taribo West, thanks to his €12 million switch from Auxerre to Inter Milan in June 1997.

Fourteenth position currently belongs to Chelsea right wing-back Victor Moses, who moved to the Stamford Bridge outfit in 2012 from Wigan Athletic for €11.5 million.

Updated Nigerian Transfer Record (Top 20)
1) Kelechi Iheanacho - Man City to Leicester - €27.7m
2) Odion Ighalo - Watford to Changchun Yatai- €23.3m
3) Obi Mikel - Lyn Oslo to Chelsea - €20m
4) Ahmed Musa - CSKA to Leicester - €19.5m
5) Wilfred Ndidi - Genk to Leicester - €17.6m
6) Yakubu Aiyegbeni - Boro to Everton - €16.5m
7) Obafemi Martins - Inter to Newcastle - €16m
8) Isaac Success - Granada to Watford - €15m
9) Emmanuel Emenike - Spartak to Fenerbahce - €13m
10) Brown Ideye - Dynamo Kiev to WBA - €12.63m
11) Austin Okocha - Fenerbahce to PSG - €12.4
12) Taribo West - Auxerre to Inter - €12m
12) Brown Ideye - Olympiakos to Tianjin Teda - €12m
14) Victor Moses - Wigan to Chelsea - €11.5m
15) Anthony Ujah - Werder to Liaoning FC - €11.5m
16) Obafemi Martins - Newcastle to Wolfsburg - €10.5m
17) 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

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : lcfc.com