Senegal international Nicolas Jackson has been named the most valuable African footballer in the world, with an estimated market value of €96.4 million, according to the latest analysis from the CIES Football Observatory.
Currently playing for Chelsea FC, Jackson has emerged as a standout name in the global football economy.
The 22-year-old forward is ranked 28th in the world among the top 100 most valuable players—a list dominated by young talent and high-profile names across Europe’s top leagues.
The CIES, a respected football research institution based in Switzerland, released its updated rankings in its most recent newsletter.
The report places Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal at the top of the global chart with a staggering estimated value of €402.3 million, underscoring the growing financial weight of emerging talent.
While Yamal may lead the pack, Jackson’s inclusion as the highest-ranked African footballer is a significant milestone, both for the player and for Senegalese football.
Jackson, who began his professional journey at Casa Sports in Senegal, has enjoyed a sharp rise in his career since moving to Europe. His performances for Chelsea in the Premier League have drawn attention not only for his athletic ability but also for his potential long-term value.
Despite being relatively early in his Chelsea tenure, Jackson is under contract at the London club until 2033, a sign of the club’s faith in his continued development and market appeal.
His market valuation places him ahead of other prominent African players in the CIES ranking. Carlos Baleba, the Cameroonian midfielder currently playing for Brighton & Hove Albion, is the second-highest African on the list, ranked 57th overall with a valuation of €78 million.
Just behind him is Gambian forward Yankuba Minteh, who holds the 71st spot with a value of €70 million. Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi, the Moroccan full-back, rounds out the African presence in the top 100, coming in at 99th with a market estimate of €58.2 million.
Jackson’s position in this elite ranking underscores the shifting landscape of football talent valuation, where players from Africa are increasingly seen as central to the future of the sport.
His recognition as the most valuable African footballer also reflects a broader trend of African players gaining prominence on the global stage, not just for their athleticism and performance, but also for their commercial and strategic value in a competitive transfer market.
The CIES rankings are based on a combination of player performance data, age, contract length, position, and club characteristics. Jackson’s ascent is a testament to both his technical capabilities and the strategic investment made by Chelsea in securing young, high-potential players for the long term.
As the football world continues to evolve, Nicolas Jackson’s growing stature offers a clear indication of Africa’s rising influence within the global game.
With nearly a decade left on his Chelsea contract and a continually upward career trajectory, Jackson’s role as a figurehead for African football looks set to strengthen further in the coming years.
