Maduka Okoye’s Salary at Udinese: Successful Season, Serious Injury, What’s Next?

After a stellar 2023/24 season, goalkeeper Maduka Okoye’s career was once again on the upswing. The Nigerian international was awarded a new contract with improved terms, returned to the national team, and his club was actively competing for a top ten finish in Serie A. However, just as things were looking bright, a serious injury may jeopardize his starting position once more.

What is Maduka Okoye’s salary at Udinese Calcio?

The Nigerian national team goalkeeper joined the Italian club in the summer of 2023. After a successful previous season, during which he helped the team avoid relegation and secure their Serie A status, Okoye was rewarded with a new contract running until June 30, 2028. His base salary over the four-year contract is €3,600,000, excluding bonuses. For the 2024/2025 season, Okoye will earn €900,000, translating to approximately €17,308 per week.

Team overview: Okoye ranks among the top five highest-paid Nigerian players in the league

In the 2024/2025 season, Udinese Calcio’s total salary expenditure amounts to €26,790,000, or €515,192 per week. The highest-paid player on the team is forward Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean national team player earns €2,780,000 a year: €53,462 per week.

Maduka Okoye ranks 12th in the salary rankings at Udinese Calcio, sharing this position with four other players. He stands out as one of the best-paid African players in the team, boasting the second-highest salary in this category. Angolan Rui Modesto, who ranks third, earns €160,000 less.

Moreover, he has the fourth-highest salary among all Nigerian players in Serie A, with the next highest-paid player, defender Tyronne Ebuehi of Empoli FC, earning nearly 1.5 times less than him.

Salary comparison over his career

After signing with Watford F.C., Okoye’s salary increased almost sixfold. However, he struggled to secure a starting position in the English club and subsequently moved to Italy, where his earnings nearly doubled. Following his successes in the 2023/24 season, he re-signed with Udinese Calcio, and his salary increased by nearly 1.5 times, making it the highest of his career.

Market Value: a new phase of growth after moving to Serie A

Though he initially played for the second team of Fortuna Düsseldorf, by the time of his transfer to the Eredivisie, his market value had already tripled. During his debut season with Sparta Rotterdam, Okoye ranked fifth in the league for clean sheets, and his transfer fee increased by more than 6.5 times. By the end of the 2021/22 season, which he partially spent on loan, his value surged an additional 3.5 times. However, his time with Watford F.C., where he played only two matches, saw his transfer fee nearly halve. 

Despite his struggles in England, Okoye had become the starting goalkeeper for Udinese Calcio by mid-season 2023/24, leading to a resurgence in his value. At this point, his transfer fee had nearly quadrupled. Currently, Transfermarkt.com values the Nigerian goalkeeper at €7.5 million, ranking it as the third highest among players at the Italian club, a remarkable turnaround fueled by his performances in Serie A.

Achievements with the national team

Maduka Okoye made his debut for the Nigerian senior national team in the fall of 2019. He represented the team at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations, where Nigeria reached the Round of 16 before narrowly losing to Tunisia. Overall, Okoye has played 17 matches for the national team, keeping seven clean sheets.

Prospects

Maduka Okoye started the 2024/2025 season as the first-choice goalkeeper for Udinese Calcio. However, in early December, he suffered a wrist injury that is expected to sideline him for several months. Before his injury, Okoye recorded three clean sheets. Following his recovery, he will likely need to compete for his starting position once again.