The biggest African transfers of the summer
Many significant footballers from the African continent have made big moves to fresh clubs in the summer transfer window. Some needed playing time ahead of the African Cup of Nations in 2024, and others had huge offers that they could not reject.
The riches of Saudi Arabia have tempted several members of the AFCON holders Senegal to switch to the Gulf state. Others who have secured big moves are perhaps aiming to become champions of Africa ahead of the new year. But for now, they will be focused on hitting the ground running with their new clubs.
Andre Onana
Andre Onana is in the eyes of many, the greatest African goalkeeper at present. It is no surprise that Manchester United sought his services as a solution to the decline of David de Gea.
A reliable goalkeeper, with ball-playing skills, is vital in the modern game, and Onana provides the Red Devils with just that. Following his arrival, United are offered at +1900 to win the Premier League this year, in the odds at https://www.premierbet.co.mz/.
United are perhaps not quite prepared to capture their 21st English League title. However, Onana provides them with the modern goalkeeping option that they lacked in comparison to their rivals. With Manchester City and Liverpool boasting world-class Brazilians in Ederson Moraes and Alisson Becker.
United are certainly two or three signings away from a genuine title challenge, but the Cameroonian presents an ideal step toward their return to the peak of English football.
The Senegal-Saudi exodus
Many of the headline African transfer moves of the summer have been from stars of Senegal's triumphant AFCON team of 2022.
Kalidou Koulibaly, and even last year's Ballon d'Or runner-up Sadio Mane have both opted to pledge their footballing future to the Saudi Pro League, along with Former UEFA Champions League winner Edouard Mendy and fellow African superstar Riyad Mahrez.
Koulibaly has joined Al Hilal, reported at https://ghanasoccernet.com/, alongside global superstar Neymar Jr, and this is fast becoming a star-studded team. Sadio Mane has joined Al Nassr, meaning the three Senegalese players will all face off at some point in the upcoming SPL season.
The 2023 summer transfer window is set to conclude with a majority of Africa's leading players playing their football in Saudi Arabia.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
We have seen Africa's leading goalkeeper make a switch to one of the biggest clubs in the world before he heads to AFCON with Cameroon in the new year. And many of Senegal's biggest stars have opted to spend the twilight years of their career in the Middle East.
However, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is an example of a player who is aiming to be competitive until he is physically unable to be. The Gabonese forward had an array of offers ahead of leaving Chelsea in the summer.
It would have been easy for Aubameyang to choose his next move based purely on monetary gain rather than football reasons. However, he opted to return to where he played his first senior European football - in Ligue 1, where he now plays for Marseille.
Most of Africa's biggest stars have changed footballing homes over the past few months. All of whom should be regulars at their new teams, which is ideal preparation for AFCON in 2024.
