‘If I Played in This Era, My Market Value Would Be €150 Million’ - Yakubu Ayegbeni

Former Super Eagles striker Yakubu Ayegbeni has sparked a debate about the changing football transfer market after boldly claiming that he could have been worth as much as €150 million if he played in today’s era.

The ex-Premier League forward made the statement while reflecting on his career, his goalscoring record and the huge transfer fees attached to players in modern football. According to Yakubu, the transfer market has changed dramatically, with players now commanding enormous fees even when their goalscoring numbers may not be significantly higher than what he produced during his playing days.

Yakubu pointed to the astronomical fees being paid for players in the current market, arguing that scoring just 10 Premier League goals can now significantly increase a player’s valuation.

“You see players now, I’m sorry to say, you score 10 goals, it’s €50 million. Ten goals in the Premier League is €50 million.”

The former striker then drew attention to his own record in England. Yakubu regularly scored around 15 Premier League goals in a season, a feat he believes would have made him an even more expensive asset in today’s market.

“I scored every year, it’s like 15, 15 in the Premier League.”

Yakubu also revisited one of the biggest transfers of his career, his £11.5 million move from Middlesbrough to Everton. The former striker suggested that the value of that transfer, when viewed through the lens of today’s inflated transfer market, would be comparable to around €150 million.

“And then from Borough to Everton was like £11.5 million, and that £11.5 million is like €150 million.”

The statement has naturally raised eyebrows, with football fans likely to debate whether Yakubu’s goalscoring record would genuinely have placed him in the €150 million bracket in today’s market.

Yakubu also opened up about the pressure that accompanied his expensive transfers. According to the former Super Eagles star, players who are purchased for huge amounts of money are expected to immediately prove that they are worth the investment.

“When you’re bought for big amount of money, you have to deliver your best.”

Yakubu remains one of the most prolific African strikers to have played in the Premier League. The Nigerian forward represented clubs including Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton and Blackburn Rovers, establishing himself as a consistent goalscorer during his time in England.

His comments have now reignited conversations about how much some of the great players from previous generations would be worth if they were entering today’s transfer market.