Players · Updated 2026-10-19
How many African players play in Europe's top five leagues?
Short answer
About 190 African footballers are currently registered at clubs in Europe's top five leagues according to our data, with the most in Ligue 1 (61). France's Ligue 1 has historically been the main gateway for African talent.
The numbers
| League | Now | All-time |
|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 40 | 540 |
| La Liga | 32 | 402 |
| Bundesliga | 29 | 338 |
| Serie A | 28 | 447 |
| Ligue 1 | 61 | 1567 |
People also ask
How many African players are in the Premier League?
40 African footballers in our database are currently at Premier League clubs, and 540 have played for current Premier League clubs in total. Nigeria supply the most players all-time (67). Read more →
Answers are generated from our database of international results, Wikidata player records and other open sources, and refresh automatically. See our methodology.