Caykur Rizespor’s Euro Ambitions and Okechukwu Azubuike’s Salary Saga

Just a year ago, Caykur Rizespor competed in the second-tier Turkish football division, but this season they are already contending for participation in European tournaments. Unfortunately, Nigerian midfielder Okechukwu Azubuike won’t be able to help his team as he continues to recover from a serious injury and has not played a single minute this season. The Kick Off Nigeria has examined the financial aspect of the player’s life in Turkey.

What is Okechukwu Azubuike’s salary at Caykur Rizespor?

The Nigerian national team midfielder joined the Turkish club in the winter of 2023, signing a contract until June 30, 2025. Over two years in Turkey, the Nigerian footballer will earn €3,340,000 without bonuses. Thus, his annual salary is €1,670,000 or €32,115 per week.

Team salary overview: Azubuike is the highest-paid African player

In the 2023/2024 season, Caykur Rizespor’s total expenditure on salaries amounts to €17,520,000 annually, or €336,923 per week. The highest-paid player in the team is midfielder Jonjo Shelvey. The former England national team player, currently on loan from Nottingham Forest F.C., earns €6,400,000 per year: €123,077 per week. 

Okechukwu Azubuike, in turn, ranks among the top three highest-paid players in the club, leading among African players at Caykur Rizespor. Cameroonian forward John Mary, who occupies the second position, earns nearly three times less.

Additionally, Okechukwu Azubuike ranks second among the highest-paid Nigerian footballers in the Turkish Super Lig. Only Trabzonspor forward Paul Onuachu earns more, with his salary almost double. Fenerbahce S.K. defender Bright Osayi-Samuel, closing the top 3, earns almost one and a half times less.

Career Salary Comparison: Steady Growth Despite Frequent Loans

The majority of the Nigerian midfielder’s adult career has been spent in Turkey. However, Azubuike’s salary significantly increased for the first time after signing a contract with the Egyptian team Pyramids FC. After a successful season in the Super Lig before moving to Egypt and becoming a key player for Yeni Malatyaspor, the Nigerian increased his earnings by about 24 times.

However, midway through the 2018/2019 season, the midfielder returned to the Turkish championship: first joining Caykur Rizespor, then Istanbul Basaksehir F.K. The latter club subsequently exercised their option to purchase the Nigerian. A consistent agreement with the Istanbul club led to Azubuike’s salary increasing by almost one and a half times.

However, just a year later, the Nigerian midfielder, failing to secure a spot in the team’s starting lineup, went out on loan again: he spent the first half of the 2020/2021 season at Sivasspor, and the second half at Yeni Malatyaspor. Despite the constant changes in club registration, his earnings increased by more than three times and remained the same until the contract with Istanbul Basaksehir F.K. expired.

Another salary increase occurred after another loan and subsequent signing of a full contract. Moving to Caykur Rizespor increased the Nigerian’s earnings by just €20,000. Currently, Azubuike receives the highest salary of his career.

Market value: sharp decline due to a serious injury

After joining Yeni Malatyaspor from the Nigerian club Bayelsa United F.C., Okechukwu Azubuike’s transfer value increased with each season. In his first two seasons in Turkey, the midfielder not only became a key player for the team and helped them return to the Super Lig but also increased his value by 20 times. With each season, the midfielder managed to increase his market value, peaking at €2 million in 2020. Since then, the player has only lost his positions, partly due to injuries. Transfermarkt now estimates him at €225,000.

International Achievements

In 2015, Okechukwu Azubuike made his debut for the Nigerian youth national team, with which he became the champion of the African Nations Cup U23 in the same year. Unfortunately, his story with the national team did not go as smoothly: he played only one match for the senior team in 2016. However, in the same year, he played for the Nigerian Olympic team, winning bronze at the Games in Brazil.

Football and Financial Prospects

In August, before the start of the 2023/2024 season, Okechukwu Azubuike underwent surgery due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The midfielder is expected to return to the field within 6-9 months. Thus, there is a possibility that the Nigerian will miss the current season entirely. However, if Caykur Rizespor manages to qualify for European cups at the end of the season, an experienced midfielder who has already played in the Europa League and Conference League will be useful to the team. The next season will be crucial for Azubuike: if the midfielder manages to recover and help the team advance as far as possible in the fight for European trophies, there is a chance that the Turkish club will re-sign him on more favorable terms.