Ajax's Bassey and Atalanta's Lookman join Napoli's Osimhen in Nigeria's top ten MVP chart
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- EaglesTracker presents Nigeria's Most Valuable Footballers at the start of the year 2023
10. Paul Onuachu, Club Brugge - €15m
Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu has registered 82 goals and ten assists in 129 matches for KRC Genk after only three and a half years at the club.
Still 28 years old, Onuachu has at least one big transfer left in him and that could see him rated above the €15m which places him in this top ten list.
9. Kelechi Iheanacho, Leicester City - €17m
Despite struggling for playing time at Leicester City, Kelechi Iheanacho remains in Nigeria's top ten most valuable players with an estimated value of 17 million euros, three million short of his career-high mark.
Aged 26, Iheanacho needs a move to a club where he will play regularly and put his fantastic finishing ability to good use.
8. Calvin Bassey, Ajax - €18m
Bassey's market valuation astonishingly went from around one million euros in January 2021 to €18 million in January 2023 after a perfect 2022.
Within the last twelve months, Bassey reached the final of the Europa League, made the team of the tournament, and won the Scottish Cup.
Now at Ajax, the Leicester City product is preparing for a bigger move in the nearest future.
7. Umar Sadiq, Real Sociedad - €18m
One of Nigeria's most prolific goal scorers in Spain in recent times, Umar Sadiq reached La Liga with Almeria and switched to Real Sociedad last summer.
Sadiq is currently injured and is poised to return and show his quality in Spain's top flight.
6. Ademola Lookman, Atalanta - €20m
After going under the radar with an unsuccessful stay at Leipzig and a fine loan spell at Leicester City, Lookman is back on the rise with Atalanta.
The Super Eagles forward has seven goals and two assists in the Italian Serie A and could grab more attention should he help Atalanta qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
5. Samuel Chukwueze, Villarreal - €20m
In June 2019, Samuel Chukwueze reached a market high value of €30 million but has failed to push further since.
The 23-year-old winger could quit Villarreal in the coming transfer windows as a move to England is reportedly in the works.
A change of scenery could see Chukwueze unleash his best form.
4. Taiwo Awoniyi, Nottingham Forest - €20m
Taiwo Awoniyi will look back at the year 2022 and be pleased with how it turned out for him - ending his stay at Union Berlin on a high before sealing a dream move to the Premier League.
The former Liverpool signing needs to start scoring regularly for Nottingham Forest, though, to maintain his high ratings on the transfer market.
3. Alex Iwobi, Everton FC - €25m
Alex Iwobi's resurgence at Everton - going from a villain to the first name on the team sheet - was one of the most adorable stories of 2022.
The former Arsenal man can continue his upward trajectory with a repeat showing this new year.
And the Toffees desperately need Iwobi at his best as they struggle to avoid getting relegated this season.
2. Wilfred Ndidi, Leicester City - €40m
Still one of Nigeria's most valuable stars, Ndidi is valued at forty million euros. Injuries over the past twelve months have seen the LCFC midfielder drop a bit in his ratings.
But the best is yet to come for the 26-year-old who once was rated among the best defensive midfielders in the world.
1. Victor Osimhen, Napoli - €70m
There is no doubt that Victor Osimhen remains Nigeria's biggest export to Europe at the moment.
The Napoli forward is scoring for fun and leading Napoli's charge for an elusive Serie A title. Osimhen is poised to become even more valuable heading into the summer should he become an Italian champion.
Nigeria's most valuable players
1. Victor Osimhen, SSC Napoli - €70m
2. Wilfred Ndidi, Leicester City FC- €40m
3. Alex Iwobi, Everton FC - €25m
4. Taiwo Awoniyi, Nottingham Forest - €20m
5. Samuel Chukwueze, Villarreal CF - €20m
6. Ademola Lookman, Atalanta BC - €20m
7. Umar Sadiq, Real Sociedad - €18m
8. Calvin Bassey, AFC Ajax - €18m
9. Kelechi Iheanacho, Leicester City FC - €18m
10. Paul Onuachu, Club Brugge KV - €17m
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