#10 Hakim Ziyech
Just breaking into the Top 10, Ziyech will move to Chelsea this summer for an initial fee of £33.3 million, which could rise to £36.6 million with add-ons.
The Morocco international has been tipped to leave Ajax for several transfer windows, particularly following his star turn in the Amsterdam giants’ run to the Champions League semi-finals last year.
While he rejected a move to Sevilla on the basis that it wasn’t a tangible step up in his career, the 26-year-old clearly believes that joining Frank Lampard’s Stamford Bridge revolution is the right move.
He’s entering his prime years, and Ziyech appears poised to become the Premier League’s next great African superstar; can he also help the Pensioners return to the pinnacle of English football?
#9 Mohamed Salah
Liverpool snared the AS Roma forward for £36.9 million back in the summer of 2017, with some reports suggesting that the price could rise to £43.9 million considering add-ons.
Either way, the deal represents an absolute bargain for the Reds.
Salah thrived under the pressure, smashing records aplenty during his maiden season in Anfield, and becoming the darling of the home fans in the process.
Last term, some suggested his form may have dropped domestically, but Salah still inspired Liverpool to a title challenge, and netted the winner as they won the Champions League in Madrid.
Expect him to add the Premier League title to his burgeoning Anfield honours list later this term.
#8 Sadio Mane
Mane moved to Anfield from Southampton for over £37 million, and while his maiden campaign on Merseyside wasn’t trouble-free, he made an excellent impression, and initially at least, threatened to be the catalyst for an unexpected title tilt by the Reds.
In subsequent campaigns, he’s grown into a genuine world-class player, and was influential as the Merseysiders clinched the Champions League last term.
Like Salah, his fellow 2018-19 Golden Boot winner, he has maintained his outstanding form this term to transfer Liverpool into one of the most impressive sides in the history of the English game.
He’s also the reigning African Footballer of the Year.
#7 Sebastien Haller
The first of several uncapped dual-nationality players on our list, West Ham United parted with £45 million to sign Haller from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer.
The striker scored 15 goals and contributing nine assists last term, although while he’s impressed on occasion this term, he will surely need to improve on a return of six goals in 24 league games if the Hammers are to steer clear of relegation.
Capped by France at U-21 level, the 25-year-old remains eligible for the Cote d’Ivoire.
#6 Aaron Wan-Bissaka
The Anglo-Congolese wonderkid is another relatively new mover, having joined Manchester United from Crystal Palace for £49.5 million last summer.
He’s already excelled in the Premier League, impressing with his sturdy defensive displays in recent seasons, and has represents an upgrade on the Red Devils’ previous options at right-back despite their domestic troubles.
It’s surely only a matter of time before the former DR Congo U-20 internationa represents England at senior level.
#5 Naby Keita
Nabbed by Liverpool from RasenBallsport Leipzig, Keita is yet to truly realise his potential following a £52.75 million move, despite winning the Champions League last season.
He was one of the key protagonists in Leipzig’s climb up the German football ladder, but took his time adapting to life in the Premier League, before injury struck towards the end of his first season at the club.
This term, he’s been similarly undermined by fitness issues, but expect him to win the Premier League title before the campaign ends.
#4 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Arsenal parted with £56 million to bring Borussia Dortmund’s Aubameyang to North London, despite the Gabon international having been linked with a move to Real Madrid.
The Central African hitman wasted little time demonstrating his quality under Arsene Wenger, and then Unai Emery, even though he wasn’t always been an undisputed starter under the latter.
Predictably, the goals have flown, with Auba sharing the Premier League’s Golden Boot with Mane and Salah last term. Expect him to maintain his goalscoring form under Mikel Arteta.
#3 Riyad Mahrez
Manchester City parted with a club-record £60 million to sign Mahrez, finally ending the Algeria international’s extended wait to exit Leicester City.
He may have been a Premier League winner with the Foxes in 2016, during that most remarkable of campaigns, but Mahrez hasn’t always found the going easy at the Etihad Stadium, where he’s occasionally struggled for playing time under Pep Guardiola.
After making a series of decisive contributions last term, as the Sky Blues won a swathe of domestic silverware, the African champion will be hoping to further establish himself in 2019-20.
#2 Cedric Bakambu
Beijing Guoan parted with an eye-watering £65 million to take Bakambu to China after the striker had netted 15 goals for Villarreal during the 2017-18 season.
He hit the ground running in the Far East, with eight goals in his first eight games, and also caught the eye with a series of fine showings during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Democratic Republic of Congo hitman previously represented Sochaux and Bursaspor, and was reportedly close to a move to Barcelona earlier this year.
#1 Nicolas Pepe
Pepe became Africa’s most expensive player last summer when Arsenal parted with £72 million to bring the wideman to the Emirates Stadium from LOSC Lille.
He penned a five-year contract with the Gunners after scoring 22 goals and contributing 11 assists in Ligue 1 last term, prompting former coach Emery to turn to him ahead of Wilfried Zaha.
Arsenal fans were desperate for Pepe to emulate Eden Hazard, LOSC’s finest import to the Premier League, rather than his compatriot Gervinho, although to date, Pepe has only shown his quality in glimpses in the top flight.
Source: Goal.com