Marmoush, Ziyech and others. Top 10 African transfers this winter
Luis Torres
Dailysports's expert
The winter transfer window was very eventful, and many African footballers changed clubs as a result. Dailysports has compiled a list of the ten most notable African transfers this winter.
10. Juma Bah – from Valladolid to Manchester City/Lens
Sierra Leone is hardly considered a footballing nation. Players from this country rarely compete in Europe, and the national team only occasionally qualifies for the Africa Cup of Nations. But now, Sierra Leone has a footballer within Manchester City's structure.
Juma Ba had a strong first half of the season with La Liga underdog Valladolid. The 18-year-old center-back became a key player and caught the attention of the "Citizens," who paid €6 million for him. Importantly, he won’t be left without playing time. Man City immediately loaned Ba to Lens, who had sold their key center-backs Abdukodir Khusanov and Kevin Danso in the winter. This means Juma Ba will have the opportunity to prove himself at the Ligue 1 level.
9. Sébastien Haller – from Borussia Dortmund to Utrecht (loan)
The 2022/23 season – Sébastien Haller steps up to take a penalty with Dortmund trailing Mainz 0-2 in a match that could have secured the Bundesliga title. But the Ivorian failed to beat the goalkeeper, and from that moment on, his club career took a downward turn. Haller scored the decisive goal in the AFCON 2023 final and had a strong tournament overall, but he lost his place in Dortmund’s starting lineup.
In the summer, Haller was loaned to Leganés, but he failed to make an impact in La Liga – 8 matches, 0 goals. As a result, his loan was cut short, and the 30-year-old forward has now returned to Utrecht. It was at this Dutch club that Haller made a name for himself in Europe before moving to Eintracht in the summer of 2017. Since his return, Haller has already scored 2 goals in 6 matches.
8. Kelechi Iheanacho – from Sevilla to Middlesbrough (loan)
Kelechi Iheanacho’s transfer to Sevilla last summer can now be considered a complete failure. The former Manchester City forward played in only 9 La Liga matches without registering any goal contributions.
A return to England, where he made his name with Man City and Leicester, was the most logical decision for Iheanacho. For now, Middlesbrough has only loaned him until the end of the season. Michael Carrick’s team needs a goal-scoring forward who can play both centrally and on the wing, and Iheanacho is exactly the kind of player who can help Middlesbrough fight for a playoff spot in the Championship.
For Iheanacho himself, regular playing time is crucial, as he remains an important player for the Nigerian national team despite strong competition in the squad.
7. Gift Orban – from Lyon to Hoffenheim
Gift Orban scored 32 goals in 52 matches for Genk, which earned him a move to Lyon last winter. But at the French club, the Nigerian forward was involved in more conflicts with coaches than actual football. This season, he appeared in just 3 Ligue 1 matches, scoring twice.
As a result, Orban has permanently left Lyon, joining Hoffenheim for €9 million. The "Kraichgauer" are already preparing for the departure of club legend Andrej Kramarić in the summer, and Orban is seen as his potential replacement. His career in Germany has started well – in 4 games, he has already scored against Bayer and Eintracht after coming off the bench.
6. Marshall Munetsi – from Reims to Wolverhampton
The defensive midfield position was not initially a problem for Wolverhampton, but everything changed due to a conflict between new head coach Vítor Pereira and Mario Lemina. The Gabonese midfielder went from being the team captain to a benchwarmer and was eventually sold to Galatasaray.
Wolves found Lemina’s replacement on the final day of the transfer window. Zimbabwean international Marshall Munetsi moved from Reims for €18 million. While it is unlikely that the 28-year-old will immediately displace João Gomes or André, he will certainly be an important rotational player.
5. Emmanuel Agbadou – from Reims to Wolverhampton
Another transfer along the same route. Wolverhampton has struggled defensively this season, particularly on set pieces. The team needed a tall and physically strong center-back who is dominant in aerial duels, and they found such a player in France.
Wolves paid Reims €20 million for Emmanuel Agbadou, making it the second-highest sale in the French club’s history. The 192 cm-tall Ivorian has already established himself as a starter under Vítor Pereira, featuring in 4 Premier League matches and 1 FA Cup game.
4. Hakim Ziyech – from Galatasaray to Al-Duhail
After a phenomenal spell at Ajax, Hakim Ziyech’s career went into decline. He failed to establish himself at Chelsea and could not become an important player for Galatasaray either. This season, the Moroccan national team legend played just 3 Super Lig matches, so it was only logical that he left the club in winter.
Ziyech will now play for Al-Duhail, one of the strongest clubs in Qatar. He has already made his debut, coming on as a substitute for 10 minutes. For Morocco, it is crucial that Ziyech continues to get playing time and stays in form, even at this level.
3. Reda Belahyane – from Verona to Lazio
Reda Belahyane can already be considered one of the fastest-developing African footballers this season. Last season, he was a bench player first at Nice and then at Verona.
However, since the start of Serie A 2024/25, Belahyane has become a key player for Verona, playing 20 matches. He stood out for his ability to intercept the ball, evade pressure, and execute strong tackles. As a result, Lazio paid €9.5 million for him. Now, the young Moroccan will get a chance to prove himself at a higher level under his former coach Marco Baroni.
2. Seko Fofana – from Al-Nassr to Rennes
Seko Fofana is one of the best Ivorian footballers of the current era. He became a cult figure at Lens, where he sensationally led the team to the Champions League. After moving to Al-Nassr, Fofana even invested part of his salary to become a co-owner of Lens.
However, Fofana never secured a regular spot at Al-Nassr due to foreign player limits, spending a year on loan at Al-Ettifaq. Now, the 29-year-old Africa Cup of Nations winner has returned to France to help struggling Rennes avoid relegation. The French club paid €20 million for his transfer.
1. Omar Marmoush – from Eintracht to Manchester City
This is not just one of the biggest transfers among African players, but one of the biggest transfers worldwide. Omar Marmoush had a sensational half-season with Eintracht – 20 goals and 14 assists in 26 matches. The Egyptian impressed so much that Manchester City paid €75 million for him.
At City, Marmoush is expected to solve problems in attack, as the team has struggled to supply Erling Haaland with the ball. His creativity should help the "Citizens" diversify their offensive play. He performed well against Chelsea but struggled against Arsenal, as did the entire team. It will be interesting to see how Marmoush fares against weaker opponents.
