Okoye reaches career-high value, 13x more valuable than Super Eagles’ no.1 [Transfermarkt]

Maduka Okoye’s career has hit a new peak, with his market value now reaching €7.5 million as per Transfermarkt's latest update. 

This valuation is the highest of his career so far and reflects his steady ascent since debuting for Nigeria in 2019. 

Initially making waves in Germany’s youth league, Okoye’s journey took him from Fortuna Düsseldorf’s youth ranks to becoming Nigeria’s first-choice keeper and a valuable name in European football.

Career financial high, low, and redemption

Maduka Okoye’s journey has seen its share of highs, lows, and a path to redemption. His career truly took off in 2020 with a move to Sparta Rotterdam, where his consistent performances quickly established him as Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper. This rise in form boosted his market value to €1 million, cementing his role with the Super Eagles and garnering attention across European clubs.

In January 2022, the 25-year-old made headlines with a €5 million transfer to Watford, setting a record as the most expensive Nigerian goalkeeper. Yet, despite the high-profile move, his time in England proved challenging, as limited game time in the Championship stalled his momentum. 

Recognizing the need for regular minutes to keep his career trajectory on course, Okoye moved to Udinese in Serie A for a reported €6 million in August 2023. This transfer reunited him with the Pozzo family ownership group, shared between Watford and Udinese.

Okoye among Africa’s best goalkeepers

At Udinese, Okoye wasted no time securing the starting role, making a significant impact and helping the club avoid relegation last season. 

So far this season, the Super Eagles reserve goalkeeper has featured in all nine Serie A games, keeping three clean sheets, conceding just 11 goals, and stopping one of three penalty attempts. 

Okoye’s market value now places him as Africa’s fourth most valuable goalkeeper. Cameroon’s André Onana (Manchester United) leads with a €35 million valuation, followed by Morocco’s Bono (Al-Hilal) at €9 million and Senegal’s Edouard Mendy (Al-Ahli) at €8 million. 

Stanley Nwabali on the other hand has a market value of €550k and is ranked 50th on the list.