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.
- Nigeria 774
- Ghana 522
- Senegal 413
- Ivory Coast 382
- Cameroon 242
- Mali 155
- The Gambia 129
African expatriates in the Americas between 2020 and 2025
- Ghana 59
- Nigeria 44
- Cameroon 29
- Senegal 19
- Ivory Coast 17
- South Africa 13
*Africa expatriates in Asia between 2020 and 2025
- Nigeria 123
- Ghana 120
- Senegal 66
- Cameroon 55
- Ivory Coast 52
- Morocco 52
- Egypt 32
- Tunisia 32
- Algeria 30
- Mali 29
Top 10 leading countries, globally
- Brazil 3020
- France 2293
- Argentina 2171
- England 1510
- Spain 1106
- Germany 1095
- Colombia 1077
- Nigeria 926
- Serbia 915
- Croatia 855
