Tyronne Ebuehi is Trying to Save Empoli FC From Relegation. What is the salary of the defender? 

Losing several key players in the summer transfer window of 2023, Empoli FC has firmly established itself at the bottom of the league table. Even the Nigerian Tyronne Ebuehi, who not only set his own scoring record in the 2022/2023 season but also took the position of the team’s defensive leader, is struggling to save the team from relegation in Serie A. The Kick Off Nigeria looks into the financial side of the player’s story. 

What is Tyronne Ebuehi’s Salary at Empoli FC? 

The Nigerian national team defender joined the Italian team in the summer of 2022: the agreement is valid until June 30, 2025. Over the remaining two years in Italy, the Nigerian footballer will receive €1,280,000 excluding bonuses. For the 2023/2024 season, the Nigerian will earn €640,000, which is €12,308 per week. 

Team Salary Overview: Ebuehi is the Lowest-paid African Player in the Team 

In the 2023/2024 season, Empoli FC’s total salary expenditure is €28,570,000, which is €549,423 per week. The highest-paid player in the team is attacking midfielder Viktor Kovalenko. The former Ukrainian national team player receives €2,560,000 per year, which amounts to a weekly wage of €49,231. Tyronne Ebuehi ranks only 16th in the salary ranking and shares the spot with goalkeeper Elia Caprile, being the 8th highest-paid foreigner by the club. Besides that, Empoli FC has three African players, and Ebuehi is at the bottom of this list, being the lowest-paid African: the midfielder Maleh and winger Gyasi ahead of him receive twice as much. 

Career Salary Comparison: Until 2022, Ebuehi’s Earnings Constantly Increased 

During four seasons at ADO Den Haag, the number of matches played by the Nigerian in the starting lineup constantly increased. The defender’s salary also increased during the period from 2014 to 2018, when it tripled. 

After showing high-quality football in the Netherlands, the Nigerian defender signed a contract with Portuguese giants S.L. Benfica and his salary increased by more than 2.5 times. Later, when the defender returned to the Eredivisie on loan, which brought him a 1.5 times increase in earnings. 

The same increase occurred after moving to Italy: it was in Venezia FC where the Nigerian defender received the highest salary in his career. The subsequent move to Empoli FC, on the one hand, allowed the Nigerian to stay in Serie A, but on the other hand, led to a decrease in salary by €50,000.

Market value: Ebuehi Among Top-10 Most Expensive Players in Empoli 

Since his debut at ADO Den Haag until moving to Portugal, Ebuehi’s transfer value has increased by 30 times. The biggest leap occurred during the 2017/2018 season: then the defender firmly established himself in the Dutch club and made it to the Nigerian national team squad for the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia. 

The move to S.L. Benfica coincided with a severe cruciate ligament injury, which sidelined the Nigerian for a whole season and could have ended his career. The injury also affected the defender’s market value: it decreased by almost three times in a year. However, subsequent loan agreements first with FC Twente and then with Venezia FC not only restarted his career but also resumed the growth of his transfer value. In two years, Tyronne Ebuehi’s value increased by more than 2.5 times. A successful year in Venice led to the signing of a permanent agreement with another Serie A team. 

The debut season at Empoli FC was the most productive in the Nigerian defender’s career. Ebuehi scored two goals and provided four assists, which led to an almost doubling of his market value. Currently, Transfermarkt estimates Tyronne Ebuehi’s transfer fee at €2.5 million. Thus, the defender made it to the top ten most expensive players of the Italian team, closing this ranking. 

Achievements With the National Team 

Tyronne Ebuehi made his debut for the Nigerian national team in 2017 and a year later was included in the team’s final squad for the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia. The defender played only one victorious match against Iceland and the Super Eagles failed to advance to the playoffs. Ebuehi missed his first Africa Cup of Nations due to a cruciate ligament rupture. However, he was included in the squad for the 2022 tournament, although he only appeared on the field in the game against Guinea-Bissau. In total, he played 13 matches for the national team but did not contribute to any goals. 

Football and Financial Prospects 

In the 2023/2024 season, Tyronne Ebuehi remains one of the main players of the Italian team. Out of 19 Serie A matches, the Nigerian was benched only five times. In the match against SSC Napoli, Ebuehi’s assist not only helped defeat the reigning Italian champions but also brought Empoli FC their third victory of the season. However, since then, the club has not won a single game, and the defender has not made any new productive actions. Avoiding relegation from the elite division will surely lead to signing a new agreement on improved terms. However, if Empoli FC leaves Serie A, there is a chance that the adapted defender to Italian football will attract the attention of other clubs that can offer him a more lucrative contract.