10 Super Eagles stars hit new market values: Chukwueze shines, Osimhen tops

Several Super Eagles stars and emerging internationals have been rewarded by a Transfermarkt update after the opening weeks of the 2026/27 season, Soccernet.ng reports.

Some have climbed because opportunity has met performance. Others have paid the price for injuries, reduced minutes or difficult starts, while a fresh generation has pushed into Eric Chelle’s thinking ahead of Nigeria’s October 6 friendly against Russia in Nizhny Novgorod.

At the summit, however, Nigeria still has a familiar standard-bearer. Elsewhere, Samuel Chukwueze’s revival at AC Milan and Tolu Arokodare’s explosive entrance at Ajax have produced two of the most eye-catching movements. Here are 10 Nigerian internationals and call-ups affected by the latest valuations.

New Super Eagles market values

Victor Osimhen: €75 million

Victor Osimhen continues to sit above every other Nigerian footballer with a Transfermarkt valuation of €75 million, and his opening month offered another reminder of why.

The Galatasaray striker tore into the Turkish Süper Lig with six goals and two assists across his first four league appearances. He opened with two goals against Yeni Çorumspor, struck another brace and supplied an assist in a 4-0 victory over Erzurumspor, then registered a goal and assist against Göztepe.

His sixth arrived after only 16 minutes against İstanbul Başakşehir on September 4, but the evening turned painful when he was forced off in the 33rd minute. Galatasaray later confirmed an adductor problem, with further examinations identifying a moderate-to-advanced strain accompanied by muscle damage and bleeding.

The injury ruled him out of Super Eagles' 2-1 AFCON qualifying victory over Madagascar in Uyo, yet his €75m valuation keeps him comfortably at the head of the Nigerian market.

Tolu Arokodare: €20m to €22m

Tolu Arokodare’s move to Ajax has quickly breathed fresh life into his career, and Transfermarkt has pushed his valuation from €20m to a career-high €22m.

Ajax took the 25-year-old on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers with an option to buy, handing the 1.97m striker another chance to demonstrate the scoring instincts that previously served him in Belgium.

Arokodare responded with three goals and an assist in his opening Eredivisie appearances. He scored against Telstar and PSV before making a dramatic contribution against Excelsior on September 19. Introduced in the 62nd minute with Ajax 2-1 behind, he needed only two minutes to control Oscar Gloukh’s delivery and hammer in the equaliser. He later struck the woodwork as Ajax chased a winner.

His Super Eagles involvement has continued too. Arokodare featured in the Super Eagles' 2-1 victory over Madagascar, replacing Ademola Lookman in the second half.

Samuel Chukwueze: €18m to €20m

Few Nigerian players have repaired their club standing as dramatically as Samuel Chukwueze.

After spending last season on loan at Fulham, the Super Eagles winger returned to AC Milan and has forced his way back into the picture. Chukwueze has featured in all five of Milan’s opening Serie A matches, starting four, logging 386 league minutes and supplying two assists. His two assists are tied for the most at the club.

His ability to beat defenders has also returned. Across his early Serie A sample, Chukwueze has averaged 1.87 successful dribbles per 90 minutes, placing him among the division’s more productive midfield players in that category.

Nigeria also trusted him from the start against Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on September 25. The 27-year-old played 61 minutes before debutant Moses Usor replaced him and scored the winning goal four minutes later.

Transfermarkt’s response is a €2m increase, lifting Chukwueze from €18m to €20m.

Igoh Ogbu: €7m to €5m

Igoh Ogbu has travelled in the opposite direction, with his valuation falling to €5m during a brutal spell on the sidelines.

The Slavia Prague centre-back ruptured his Achilles tendon on June 6, an injury that has prevented him from playing during the opening months of the 2026/27 campaign.

It is the latest interruption in a difficult injury sequence. Ogbu also missed matches with muscle and hamstring problems during the 2025/26 campaign.

His absence has carried into the international game. The defender was not selected for Nigeria’s September AFCON qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, with Chelle instead calling Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Benjamin Fredricks, Emmanuel Fernandez and Chibuike Nwaiwu among his centre-back options.

Victory Akpe: €4m

Victory Akpe’s rise has moved at breathtaking speed.

The 20-year-old centre-back joined Basel in July and immediately became a regular. He started each of his first nine appearances of the 2026/27 campaign, playing 810 minutes and contributing one goal and one assist.

At 1.95m, Akpe brings imposing size to the centre of defence, but his ability to establish himself so quickly in Switzerland has accelerated his international progress.

Chelle has now handed him his first Super Eagles invitation for the October 6 friendly against Russia in Nizhny Novgorod. The Basel youngster will join Benjamin Fredricks, Emmanuel Fernandez, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Abdullahi Bewene in defence.

Mubarak Suleiman: €3.5m

At 19, Mubarak Suleiman is already forcing open doors at Slavia Prague.

The central midfielder started four early Czech First League matches and produced a goal and an assist.

Suleiman completed virtually every minute across those four early league starts, and Slavia went unbeaten in that sequence. His combination of youth, senior minutes and attacking output has now been followed by a new valuation of €3.5m.

Chelle has taken notice. Suleiman is among the midfielders summoned for Nigeria’s October friendly against Russia, giving the teenager an opportunity to make his senior international debut.

Igor Wilfred: €2m

Igor Wilfred’s steady rise in Norway has carried him into the Super Eagles.

The 21-year-old Kristiansund midfielder has accumulated substantial senior football in the 2026 Eliteserien, recording one goal and one assist across 19 league appearances and more than 1,500 minutes.

His most recent assist arrived in Kristiansund’s 2-0 victory over Tromsø on September 6, when he came off the bench and helped his side close out three points.

The reward has extended beyond his new €2m value. Chelle included Wilfred among eight midfielders selected for the Russia friendly, his first senior Super Eagles invitation.

Salim Fago Lawal: €1.5m

Salim Fago Lawal has suffered a value reduction to €1.5m after struggling to establish momentum with Viktoria Plzeň.

The 23-year-old joined the Czech club in January after his spell with Istra 1961, but his early 2026/27 league output has been modest. He had no goals or assists from 194 league minutes and spent several matches as an unused substitute.

That represents a frustrating turn after Lawal broke into Nigeria’s senior set-up at the end of 2025. Chelle selected him in the 28-man Super Eagles squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco after handing him his first call-up. He made his senior international debut against Egypt in December.

The new €1.5m figure reflects a period in which regular football has become harder to find.

Abdullahi Umar: €1.5m

Abdullahi Umar is another teenager whose European progress has reached Chelle’s desk.

The 19-year-old Hradec Králové forward has spent much of the Czech league campaign working from the bench, but his continental performances have provided the sparks.

Umar scored twice in 29 minutes against Panathinaikos in a 2-2 Conference League qualifying draw on August 20. He then struck again in the Czech Cup against Příbram on September 16, helping Hradec Králové to a 2-1 victory.

Those flashes have coincided with his maiden Super Eagles invitation. Coach Chelle named Umar among the forwards for the October 6 meeting with Russia, where he could earn his first senior cap.

Abdullahi Bewene: €1.3m

Abdullahi Bewene’s climb has been built less on goals than on trust and minutes.

The Baník Ostrava defender has become a regular in the Czech top flight, making nine league appearances so far this term.

His international breakthrough came before the season began. Bewene started and completed 90 minutes at right-back in Nigeria’s 2-2 friendly draw with Poland on June 3, then added another 31 minutes against Portugal a week later.

Chelle has kept the 21-year-old close, recalling him for the Russia friendly. His progression from fringe prospect to senior international has now been accompanied by a rise to €1.3m.