After an extended adaptation period in Portugal, Yusuf Lawal has started to make regular appearances on the field. However, the Nigerian remains a substitute player and has not yet managed to return to his productive form seen during his time in Azerbaijan. Nonetheless, the trust from his team could be the first step toward a contract extension or attracting interest from stronger clubs. The Kick Off Nigeria looks into the player’s finances.
Yusuf Lawal’s Salary at F.C. Arouca
The Nigerian winger joined the Portuguese team in the winter of 2023, with a contract set to expire on June 30, 2026. Over three years in Portugal, he will receive €540,000 excluding bonuses. For the 2023/2024 season, Lawal will earn €180,000, which breaks down to €3,462 per week.
|
Annual Salary |
€ 180,000 |
312,095,736 Nigerian Nairas |
|
Monthly Salary |
€ 15,000 |
26,012,867 Nigerian Nairas |
|
Weekly Salary |
€ 3,462 |
6,004,084 Nigerian Nairas |
|
Daily Salary |
€ 495 |
858,469 Nigerian Nairas |
Team Salary Overview: Lawal Among the Top Three Highest-Paid African Players
In the 2023/2024 season, F.C. Arouca’s total salary expenditure stands at €6,870,000, i.e., €132,115 per week. The highest-paid player on the team is defender Francisco Montero, a former Spain youth international on loan from Besiktas J.K., who receives €1,440,000 per year: €27,692 per week.
Yusuf Lawal, in contrast, ranks tenth in the salary rankings, sharing this position with Portuguese midfielder David Simao. Additionally, the Nigerian winger is the sixth highest-paid non-European player at F.C. Arouca and holds the third largest salary among the club’s African footballers, with Guinean Morlaye Sylla earning three times less. Among players under 25, Lawal ranks fourth, just ahead of striker Vladislav Morozov, who earns €30,000 less.
|
Player |
Country |
Annual Salary (EUR) |
|
Eboue Kouassi |
Cote d’Ivoire |
€ 350,000 |
|
Yanis Hamache |
Algeria |
€ 220,000 |
|
Yusuf Lawal |
Nigeria |
€ 180,000 |
|
Morlaye Sylla |
Guinea |
€ 60,000 |
|
Yaw Moses |
Ghana |
€ 40,000 |
Moreover, Yusuf Lawal is in the top five highest-paid Nigerian players in the Primeira Liga. Following him, goalkeeper Dele Alampasu from G.D. Estoril Praia earns €40,000 less.
|
Player |
Country |
Club |
Annual Salary (EUR) |
|
Zaidu Sanusi |
Nigeria |
FC Porto |
€ 780,000 |
|
Kelechi Nwakali |
Nigeria |
G.D. Chaves |
€ 480,000 |
|
Chidozie Awaziem |
Nigeria |
Boavista F.C. |
€ 430,000 |
|
Junior Pius |
Nigeria |
G.D. Chaves |
€ 300,000 |
|
Yusuf Lawal |
Nigeria |
F.C. Arouca |
€ 180,000 |
Career Salary Comparison
After moving to Neftci PFK, the Nigerian winger began to receive more playing time, though his salary approximately halved. His impressive and productive performances in Azerbaijan led to a contract with F.C. Arouca, where Lawal’s earnings nearly tripled, marking the highest salary of his career.
|
Club |
Salary Euro per Year (EUR) |
Salary Nigerian Nairas per Year (NGN) |
|
F.C. Arouca (2022/2024) |
€ 180,000 |
312,095,736 Nigerian Nairas |
|
Neftci PFK (2020/2022) |
〜€ 52,638 |
〜91,396,241 Nigerian Nairas |
|
K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen (2017/2020) |
€ 110,000 |
190,770,997 Nigerian Nairas |
Market Value: A Decline After Moving to Portugal
Despite nearly no playing time over three seasons in Belgium, Lawal’s transfer value quintupled by the time he moved to Neftci PFK. Upon debuting for the Azerbaijani Premier League team, he immediately became a key player, helping the club to a championship: the winger’s transfer sum doubled in the first year. In the 2021/2022 season, the Nigerian footballer contributed to 14 goals, breaking his own productivity record, and his value increased by more than 1.5 times, reaching its peak. However, after moving to F.C. Arouca, Lawal barely made appearances, leading to his value dropping by half; currently, Transfermarkt.com values the Nigerian winger at €400,000.
|
Club |
Year |
Market Value |
|
F.C. Arouca |
2023 |
€ 400,000 |
|
Neftci PFK |
2022 |
€ 800,000 |
|
Neftci PFK |
2021 |
€ 500,000 |
|
K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen |
2020 |
€ 250,000 |
|
K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen |
2019 |
€ 150,000 |
|
K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen |
2017-2018 |
€ 50,000 |
The National Team
In 2015, Yusuf Lawal was called up to the Nigerian U23 national team for the preparation of the African Nations Cup 2015. However, the winger did not make the final squad and has not been called up to the national team since then.
Football and Financial Prospects
For the first part of the 2023/2024 season, Yusuf Lawal hardly appeared on the field, playing a total of 22 minutes in the Primeira Liga. Nevertheless, in 2024, the winger began receiving more playing time and has already provided an assist in a match against F.C. Vizela. If the Nigerian can secure a spot in the starting lineup and return to his previous form seen in Azerbaijan, there is a chance the club will extend his contract on more favorable terms.
