Ranking the top five best African players in Premier League history

Plenty of stars from the continent have impressed in the English top flight

Africa has given some of Football’s greatest players. Over the years, a lot of African players have made their way to the English shore and have set the English top flight on fire. Some African footballers have become a part of Premier League folklore. 

Here are the top five best African players to play in the Premier League, ranked.

5. Riyad Mahrez- Algeria

Riyad Mahrez joined the Premier League in 2014 when he moved from Ligue 1 side Le Havre.

Mahrez was an important player in what was the most unexpected result in English football history, Leicester winning the 2015-16 Premier League title.

After departing from Leicester, he joined Manchester City in 2018 and since then he has become one of the most reliable players for The Cityzens. He has won 5 Premier League titles for Pep Guardiola’s side and Leicester. He was an important part of City’s historic treble-winning season. 

4. Yaya Toure – Ivory Coast

The Ivorian midfielder was considered as one of the best in his position. The box-to-box midfielder was voted one the African footballer of the year 4 times, in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014.

He joined the Premier League in 2010, when he joined for Man City. In his 8 years at the club, he provided numerous assists, and scored numerous important goals, including goals in 2011 FA Cup semi-finals and finals. He was instrumental in Man City winning their first league title in 44 years, when they won the Premier League in 2011-12.

3. Sadio Mane – Senegal

Sadio Mane joined the English topflight when he joined Southampton from Salzburg in 2012. In his first two seasons, he was solid for Southampton. However, he really came into his own when he joined Liverpool in 2014.

At Anfield, Mane become a fan favourite. In his 6 seasons at Liverpool, he was Salah’s and Firminho’s brother in arms, together they formed one of the most fierce attacking trios in recent history. He was a leading figure in Liverpool’s side when they won the Premier League in 2019-20, along with the Champions League in the same season.

2. Didier Drogba – Ivory Coast

Didier Drogba joined Chelsea in the summer of 2004, he didn’t make much of an impact during the start of his spell. However, when he left The Blues, he was one of their greatest ever.

Drogba became one of the most phenomenal strikers in the Premier League during his time. He was a major contributor to Chelsea’s trophy cabinet, he came back to Stamford bridge for a second stint in 2014-15. Adding another Premier League trophy to his collection of 4 FA Cups and three Premier League titles.

1. Mohamed Salah – Egypt

Mohamed Salah's start in the Premier League was lacklustre, he came to England when he joined Chelsea in 2014. He made just 13 appearances for The Blues in which he just scored 2 goals, after which he was loaned to Roma.

Salah turned his career around when he joined Liverpool in 2017. In his first season, he scored a record breaking 32 goals in 38 games. He was instrumental in Liverpool winning the Premier League and Champions League in 2019-2020.

Salah is Liverpool's talisman, he’s Anfield’s poster boy. The Egyptian is one of the best attackers in Premier League history and there are no signs of him leaving Liverpool anytime soon.