Football expatriates 2020-2025: Ghana ranked second in exporting of African players globally, Nigeria tops with 774 players

Football expatriates is all about the export of players to every corner of the world.

Globally, Brazil is the country that has exported the most players, with a staggering number of 3,020 players.

Nigeria tops Africa with 929 players exported to every corner of the globe.

Ghana comes second in Africa and 14th globally, as they are number one in terms of players exporting to America.

CIES Football Observatory’s definition of expatriate footballers:

This is how the CIES Football Observatory defines expatriate footballers. They are footballers playing outside the association where they grew up, which they left for reasons directly linked to football.

In other words, they are footballers who did not grow up in the association of the club of employment.

The sample is made up of players present from May 1st in the team squad of clubs in 135 leagues across the world from 2020 to 2025.

The number of players Africa has sent to compete globally over the last six years.

According to CIES Football Observatory analyses between 2020 and 2025, Nigeria is the country that has sent the most footballers in Africa to other parts of the world, with a total number of 774. The West African nation is ranked number 8 in the whole world.

Nigeria’s rival, Ghana, has produced 522 expatriate players. Globally, Ghana is ranked 13th in terms of the supply of players worldwide and sits second on the African continent.

Third on the list is Senegal, which has exported an incredible 511 players and is ranked 18th in the world.

Ivory Coast have exported 484 players and is 4th on the African continent. In 5th position is Cameroon, which has supplied 327 across the globe, while Mali comes in 6th with 202 players exported in the last six years. The Gamia completes the list with 129 players exported.

African expatriates in Europe between 2020 and 2025

This is a list of African countries found in the top 50 in the world in terms of exporting players to Europe, America, and Asia.
The numbers attached are the exact numbers they export.