The Premier League is, without a doubt, the best League in the world. Like an Iman, it attracts and retains all talent, wherever it comes from. From all around the world, dozens of players arrive each year, with a dream in their head and two feet to realize it.
Some flop, some do ok, few make history. As always, mediocrity isn’t properly attractive.: bards don’t sing songs about knights with no glory. Fortunately, there is a lot of glory to talk about when it comes to African players in the Premier League, even today, as you can see by the live trends provided by Overlyzer.
By now, it’s not hard to figure out some of the players who will need to make the cut on this top-5, so before starting with the greatest to ever do it, there’s one or two players that deserve a honorable mention.
Jay-Jay Okocha
There’s really no way to explain Okocha’s talent through statistics or titles. Things get more ethereal for Jay-Jay, as his career is strange to say the least. It was said once that he was named “Jay-Jay” because he played for two.
Wild, dazzling dribbles, stunning goals and bamboozling plays was what he offered while on the Premier League in a game-to-game basis, and true fans of the beautiful game will never forget him, even if he’s name is not on any trophy.
Riyad Mahrez
The ball is always well taken care off when it’s at Mahrez’s feet. An integral part of the Leicester stunner League title, and playing in the top of his form in the serial title-winner Manchester City, he stands as one of the most talented African players to ever play in the Premier League.
5. Sadio Mané
What’s not to love about Mane? Already a Champion’s League and Premier League winner, and the holder of the reputation of a killer winger, Mane is a gentle assassin, a true gentleman off the pitch and merciless scorer in it.
He is one of the most influential players in Liverpool in the last years and, if it was not for a player that will be showing up soon enough, he would be without doubt the most influential.
4. Michael Essien
9 seasons on the Premier League. Two Premier Leagues, 4 FA Cups and a Champions League. In the process, a Player of the Year Award in Chelsea, and game after game balancing Chelsea FC and making himself a legend of the club in the process. For everyone who saw him play, and due to his influence on the development of Chelsea as a club, it’s only fair he makes the cut.
3. Yaya Touré
A man on a mission. A player so good as a box-to-box as he was as a 10 or even as a 6. His capabilities were off the chart and there was never a game in which Yaya shied away from showing his full potential, to the delight of the Manchester City’s fans, who saw him, and rightfully so, as their brightest talent.
If Manchester City is where it is today, Yaya played a role he has to be thanked for.
2. Didier Drogba
Didier Drogba is the definition of a clutcher. A late-bloomer, he found in Mourinho and Chelsea the path to make a name for himself that he wasn’t able to do in France. Mourinho saw what he was able to provide and Drogba offered everything he had. And he had a lot.
The type of guy that made an habit of scoring in every final, including against Bayern Munchen in the Champions League final of 2012. If anything, his name is already plastered unto the Premier League history.
1. Mohammed Salah
Salah’s history on Chelsea is, well, unremarkable. Nobody could say, in insight, where Salah would top in when he was in Fiorentina or Roma. But in Liverpool… Well, It’s history. He’s a talisman, he’s a guru, he’s a natural born destroyer of defenses, a man that can be Messi and Ronaldo in one single attack when he’s in his prime form. And his prime form has led Liverpool to the biggest heights of the PL and Champion’s League.
He’s already one of the best strikers in the Premier League history and the best thing is, undoubtedly, this: he ain’t finished just yet. The sky is the limit and Salah, the Pharaoh, is up to the task.