Chelsea outbid their rivals and signed Tosin Adarabioyo, one of the most promising free agents in the Premier League. The London club beat out Newcastle United and Manchester United for the Nigerian defender, who will start training with the team on July 1.
With his experience in English football, Adarabioyo is expected to ease Enzo Maresca’s concerns about central defense while receiving a significant salary increase. Kick Off Nigeria looks into the player’s financial story.
What is Tosin Adarabioyo’s Salary at Chelsea?
The former England youth international of Nigerian descent joined the Blues in the summer of 2024, with a contract running until 2028. Over four years in London, the Nigerian defender will earn €32,932,640 excluding bonuses. Reportedly, in the 2024/2025 season, Adarabioyo will receive €8,233,160, which amounts to €158,330 per week.
|
Annual Salary |
€ 8,233,160 |
13,104,840,583 Nigerian Nairas |
|
Monthly Salary |
€ 686,097 |
1,092,070,579 Nigerian Nairas |
|
Weekly Salary |
€ 158,330 |
251,973,578 Nigerian Nairas |
|
Daily Salary |
€ 22,619 |
35,996,907 Nigerian Nairas |
Team Salary Overview: Adarabioyo is Highest-Paid African Player
For the 2023/2024 season, Chelsea’s total salary expenditure is €179,910,104, or €3,459,810 per week, with only three Premier League clubs spending more on salaries. The highest-paid player on the team is winger Raheem Sterling, who earns €19,637,543 per year, or €377,645 per week. Tosin Adarabioyo ranks ninth in the team’s salary hierarchy, the sixth highest among the club’s foreign players. He is also the highest-paid African player at Chelsea, with the next highest African earner, forward Nicolas Jackson, earning more than twice as less.
|
Player |
Country |
Annual Salary (EUR) |
|
Enzo Fernandez |
Argentina |
€ 10,876,178 |
|
Moises Caicedo |
Ecuador |
€ 9,063,481 |
|
Tosin Adarabioyo |
England/Nigeria |
€ 8,233,160 |
|
Nicolas Jackson |
Senegal |
€ 3,927,509 |
|
Deivid Washington |
Brazil |
€ 2,416,928 |
Career Salary Comparison
A loan to West Bromwich Albion not only gave the Nigerian defender more playing time but also tripled his salary. However, his next loan resulted in a 1.5-fold salary decrease. With a long-term contract at Fulham, Adarabioyo’s salary quadrupled. After transferring to Chelsea, his earnings increased by 3.5 times, marking the highest salary of his career.
|
Club |
Annual Salary (EUR) |
Annual Salary (NGN) |
|
Chelsea F.C. (2024/2025) |
€ 8,233,160 |
13,104,840,583 Nigerian Nairas |
|
Fulham F.C.(2020/2024) |
€ 2,416,928 |
3,845,742,867 Nigerian Nairas |
|
Blackburn Rovers F.C. (2019/2020) |
€ 604,232 |
961,435,717 Nigerian Nairas |
|
West Bromwich Albion F.C. (2018/2019) |
€ 906,348 |
1,442,037,290 Nigerian Nairas |
|
Manchester City F.C. (2015/2018) |
€ 302,116 |
480,679,097 Nigerian Nairas |
Market Value: Rapid Growth After Full Contract
Despite limited playing time at Manchester City, Adarabioyo’s market value quadrupled over several years. Successful loans in the Championship increased his transfer value by 3.5 times. In his first two seasons with Fulham, the defender missed only six matches, and his value surged by nearly 6.5 times. After returning to the Premier League in the 22/23 season, Adarabioyo spent more time on the bench, causing his transfer value to decrease by 1.5 times. However, after recovering from a groin injury, he became a starter again, and his value rose by more than 1.5 times, reaching its peak. Currently, Transfermarkt.com values the Nigerian at €20 million.
|
Club |
Year |
Market Value |
|
Fulham F.C. |
2024 |
€ 20,000,000 |
|
Fulham F.C. |
2023 |
€ 12,000,000 |
|
Fulham F.C. |
2022 |
€ 18,000,000 |
|
Fulham F.C. |
2021 |
€ 12,000,000 |
|
Fulham F.C. |
2020 |
€ 2,800,000 |
|
Blackburn Rovers F.C. |
2019 |
€ 3,500,000 |
|
West Bromwich Albion F.C. |
2018 |
€ 2,000,000 |
|
Manchester City F.C. |
2017 |
€ 1,000,000 |
|
Manchester City F.C. |
2016 |
€ 250,000 |
National Team Achievements
Born in London, Tosin Adarabioyo represented England at youth levels from 2012 to 2015 but has yet to be called up to the senior team, leaving him eligible to play for Nigeria. Initially, he declined an offer from the Nigerian Football Federation. However, in 2020, expressing a desire to participate in the Qatar World Cup, he announced his readiness for a potential call-up to the Super Eagles.
Future Prospects
Returning in mid-November after a groin injury, Tosin Adarabioyo reclaimed his position as Fulham’s starting defender. With his contract nearing its end, several top English clubs expressed interest, and Adarabioyo ultimately chose Chelsea. With Thiago Silva’s departure from the club, there is a high likelihood that Adarabioyo will become a key defender in Enzo Maresca’s team.
