Bright Osayi-Samuel vying for Superlig gold: What is the Defender’s Salary?

In the pursuit of the top spot, Turkish giants Fenerbahce S.K. are being confidently aided by Nigerian defender Bright Osayi-Samuel. This season, one of the team’s lowest-paid players not only fortifies the defensive line but also contributes goals for the club in European competitions. The trophies won will surely prompt the Turkish team to consider a new, more lucrative agreement with one of its key players. The Kick Off Nigeria looks into the financial story of Osayi-Samuel.

What is Bright Osayi-Samuel’s Salary at Fenerbahce S.K.?

The Nigerian national team defender joined the Turkish club in the winter of 2021, with the agreement extending until June 30, 2025. Over the remaining two years in Turkey, the Nigerian footballer will receive €2,560,000 without accounting for bonuses. For the 2023/2024 season, Osayi-Samuel will earn €1,280,000, which amounts to €24,615 per week.

Team Overview: Osayi-Samuel — the Lowest-paid Foreign Player

In the 2023/2024 season, Fenerbahce S.K.’s total expenditure on salaries amounts to €76,620,000, which translates to €1,473,462 per week – the highest figure among Turkish Super Lig clubs. The highest-paid in the team is winger Dusan Tadic. The Serbian national team player earns €7,000,000 per year, or €134,615 per week. He shares the top spot with midfielder Fred and forward Edin Dzeko.

Bright Osayi-Samuel, on the other hand, occupies only the 21st spot in the salary ranking and shares it with Turkish players Irfan Can Kahveci and Serdar Aziz. The Nigerian defender is the lowest-paid among the foreign players at Fenerbahce S.K. Dutchman Jayden Oosterwolde, who sits one spot above Osayi-Samuel, earns €50,000 more. Additionally, the Nigerian completes the top five non-European players in the Turkish team: Brazilian Luan Peres, who holds the fourth position, earns more than one and a half times as much.

Despite his low ranking within his team, Bright Osayi-Samuel is among the top three highest-paid Nigerian players in the Turkish Superlig. Following him, winger Ahmed Musa of Sivasspor earns €100,000 less.

Career Salary Comparison

Just a season into his senior career, the Nigerian defender’s salary has increased by one and a half times. The next change in earnings occurred after his return to the Championship: his contract with Queens Park Rangers F.C. led to an almost six-fold increase in salary. Over three and a half years in London, the Nigerian’s earnings changed twice. Initially, it increased by almost one and a half times before his most productive season in English football, and then it increased by approximately €23,500. Moving to the Turkish Super Lig tripled Bright Osayi-Samuel’s salary, making it the highest in his career.

Market value: another increase ahead of his most productive season in Turkey

Despite Blackpool F.C.’s relegation each season, the Nigerian’s transfer value continued to rise: by the time of his move to Queens Park Rangers F.C., it had increased by more than six and a half times. A significant leap in value occurred in the 2019/2020 season. Bright Osayi-Samuel registered 15 goal involvements in all competitions, leading to over a four and a half times increase in transfer value by the end of the season.

After moving to Turkey, Osayi-Samuel immediately secured a place in the starting lineup, and his value continued to rise: by the middle of the 2022/2023 season, it had increased by more than two and a half times, reaching its peak. However, the Nigerian missed the second half of the season due to injuries, leading to a €2 million drop in market value. 

Nevertheless, in the current season, the defender has returned to the starting lineup, improved his statistics, and his transfer value has increased by €1.5 million. Currently, Transfermarkt values the Nigerian defender at €8.5 million. Thanks to the slight increase in transfer value, Osayi-Samuel ranks seventh in the list of the most expensive players at the Turkish club, sharing it with defender Alexander Djiku and midfielder Rade Krunic.

Achievements with the National Team

Bright Osayi-Samuel made his debut for the Nigerian national team in the fall of 2022. In 2024, the defender participated in his first major tournament: he played in the African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. After playing five matches, the Nigerian reached the final with the national team, where they lost to the host team, earning silver medals. In total, Osayi-Samuel played 14 matches for the national team, providing one assist.

Football and Financial Prospects

In the first half of the 2023/2024 season, Bright Osayi-Samuel missed only four matches, three of which were due to minor injuries. However, in the latter part of the season, the defender missed a month and a half due to his call-up to the national team and participation in the African Cup of Nations. Nevertheless, Osayi-Samuel managed to score two goals and provide four assists in all competitions. If the Nigerian footballer helps Fenerbahce S.K. clinch titles and reach the Champions League qualification round next season, there is a possibility that the club will extend his contract under more favorable terms.