Babanjah Laments Low Value of Nigerian Players In Transfer Market, Hails NPFL Over New Sponsorship Deal

Babanjah Laments Low Value of Nigerian Players In Transfer Market,  Hails NPFL Over New Sponsorship Deal

Nasarawa United chairman Solomon Babanjah has lamented the poor transfer fees commanded by Nigerian players abroad, questioning why top performers in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) are being sold for considerably lower figures than players developed in academies.

Babanjah made the remarks while speaking with journalists at the NPFL Annual General Meeting and draws in Ibadan, where he also commended the leadership of the league under chairman Gbenga Elegbeleye for securing a new sponsorship deal.

According to Babanjah, the NPFL needs to do more to ensure clubs benefit financially from the talents they develop, particularly when their top players secure moves to foreign leagues.

“But when was the last time a Nigerian player was sold abroad for a good transfer fee?” Babanjah asked.

“Apart from Gbenga, I stand to be corrected, Gbenga Okunowo from Shooting Stars to Barcelona was about $817,000 at the time. And then Stephen Worgu went from Enyimba to a Sudanese club for $2 million, if you can remember.

“But now, Nigerian players are being priced at very low figures. You are pricing the highest goalscorer in Nigeria at $50,000.”

The Nasarawa United chairman expressed concern that clubs are often left with little financial benefit after losing their best players, despite the significant role they play in developing those talents.

He cited the example of Nasarawa United striker Anas Yusuf, who left the club for Algeria after scoring seven goals in just a few appearances before his departure.

“You can't force a player; you need to allow the player to travel out of the country,” Babanjah said.

“But what we are trying to say is, please, let's respect the player's contract. If it is a two-year contract, okay, fine.”

Babanjah also revealed that Nasarawa United had lost four regular players to moves abroad, including Garba Mohammed, who travelled to Ukraine, leaving the club struggling to find suitable replacements.

“You know what it means to miss a quality player. Anas, even this season before he travelled out of the country, played just a few matches and scored seven goals. It's not easy to miss your highest goalscorer—the highest goalscorer of the 2024/25 season. That affected us,” he said.

The Nasarawa United chairman further criticised the disparity between the transfer fees commanded by academy players and those developed through the domestic league.

“Most of these clubs don't go for Nigerian league players; they go for players in academies. You sell a player from an academy for €2 million or €3 million. It's not fair to the Nigerian league,” he said.

He, however, acknowledged that players must be allowed to pursue opportunities abroad, arguing that blocking their progression could also attract criticism from supporters and stakeholders.

“If we don't allow a Shooting Stars player who is doing very well today to finish as the highest goalscorer, and we don't allow him to go and sign a professional contract in France or Germany, you start insulting the chairman of Shooting Stars,” he added.

Babanjah believes the NPFL must therefore establish a stronger system that protects players' interests while also ensuring domestic clubs receive appropriate compensation for their talents.

He also praised the NPFL leadership for securing a new sponsorship deal, describing it as an important development for the league.

“I want to commend the leadership of the Nigeria Premier Football League, under the leadership of Gbenga Elegbeleye, for securing a sponsorship deal,” he said.

“Personally, it has been troubling that we don't have sponsors. But now they have come out with something. He said to you guys that in the next two weeks, he will announce it officially, so you can hear that from me. I'm assuring you, we have a sponsor. That's the most important thing.”

Babanjah said the sponsorship represented a positive step for the league, while acknowledging that the NPFL still has more work to do.

“It's a good one, but we have to start somewhere,” he said.

The Nasarawa United chairman also revealed his ambition of leading the club to continental qualification this season after narrowly missing out on the opportunity in previous campaigns.

“I believe, by the grace of God, I will try my personal best and see if I can get a continental ticket this season,” Babanjah said.