History of African players in English football
African players have a long and storied history in English football. The first African player to play in the English league was Nigerian-born goalkeeper Arthur Wharton, who played for Darlington in the late 19th century. However, it was not until the mid-20th century that African players began to have a significant impact on English football.
One of the most notable early African players in English football was Ghanaian forward John Charles, who played for Leeds United and became a fan favorite in the 1960s. Charles paved the way for future African players to make their mark in English football.
In the 1990s, African players started to become more prominent in English football. Nigerian striker Rashidi Yekini played for Vitoria Setubal before joining Brighton & Hove Albion in 1989, becoming the first African player to score in the English top flight. Nigerian forward Nwankwo Kanu also had a successful career in English football, playing for Arsenal, West Bromwich Albion, and Portsmouth.
The early 2000s saw an influx of African talent in English football. Senegalese forward El Hadji Diouf made a name for himself at Liverpool, while Ivorian striker Didier Drogba became a legend at Chelsea, winning multiple Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League. Other notable African players during this period include Samuel Eto’o, Emmanuel Adebayor, and Michael Essien.
The 2018/19 Premier League season was a historic one for African players in English football. More than 130 years after Arthur Wharton became the first, Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah shared the Golden Boot with Arsenal’s Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in a record-breaking campaign that saw Liverpool pipped for the title by a point by Manchester City.
A statue of Wharton now stands at the Football Association’s headquarters at St George’s Park – a testament to his status as an important pioneer of the game. But the story of how it got there, just like many of the African players who followed in his path such as Steve Mokone, Albert Johanneson, Peter Ndlovu, Christopher Wreh, Lucas Radebe and Didier Drogba, is far from straightforward. Ed Aarons describes how they confronted racism to help change the face of English football forever, enabling the modern generation of superstars like Mané and Salah to flourish.
Detailing their remarkable journeys to Anfield from Senegal and Egypt, Made in Africa also features an exclusive interview with Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp – who broke the transfer record for an African player for the third time in the space of 14 months when he signed Naby Keïta for almost £53m in August 2017. He explains how the club’s African contingent played an integral role in the thrilling climax to the season that ended with them becoming European champions for the sixth time.
In recent years, African players have continued to make significant contributions to English football. Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah has been a standout player for Liverpool, winning the Premier League Golden Boot and helping the team win the UEFA Champions League. Senegalese winger Sadio Mane, Algerian attacking midfielder Riyad Mahrez, and Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho are among the other African players who have had success in the English league.
Overall, African players have become an integral part of English football, bringing skill, flair, and diversity to the game. Their impact has been felt both on and off the pitch, inspiring young players in Africa and becoming role models for aspiring footballers worldwide.
