Nigerian Football Legend Austin Okocha claims he would be worth €150m in today’s transfer market

Nigerian football legend Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha has made a bold claim in an interview with Turkish media outlet Hurriyet, stating that he would have been worth around €150 million in today’s transfer market.

Austin Okocha, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers from Africa, explained his reasoning behind this claim and reflected on his past google.

Okocha, who moved from Fenerbahce to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for a then African transfer record fee of £14 million, stated that he believes his value would have been much higher in today’s market due to his performances and achievements during his career.

The 49-year-old legendary midfielder’s move to PSG was finalized after his impressive performance for Nigeria at the 1998 FIFA World Cup held in France.

During his time with Fenerbahce, Okocha dazzled fans and earned a reputation as one of the most skillful and talented players in the world.

He expressed sadness about leaving the Turkish club, where he was highly respected and admired by the fans.

Okocha said; “They paid £106m for their defensive midfielder Chelsea. To a player from Portugal. I would have cost around €150m. My assists, dribbles… World football started to pay a lot of money. Such would be the numbers of players of this quality.”

He added,;“It was a really difficult decision. I left very sadly. I was very happy in Fenerbahçe. Moreover, I married my wife in Turkey. My children were about to be born.

“When I went to the World Cup, I had no such thing in mind. After the matches in the World Cup, an offer came from PSG. Aziz Yildirim was the president. He didn’t want to send me. He didn’t even interview the PSG Club. This process has been very difficult. Despite my sadness, when such an offer came, I wanted to make money for Fenerbahçe.”

Okocha’s claims about his hypothetical transfer value in today’s market highlight the significant inflation in football transfer fees over the years, with players commanding astronomical prices in the current football landscape.

His statement also serves as a testament to his immense talent and impact on the football world during his playing days.