5 most expensive African footballers of all time

#4 Eric Bailly

Eric Bailly

When Jose Mourinho joined Manchester United as their manager, fans were expecting fireworks in the transfer window. Mourinho took everyone by surprise by making the Ivorian defender his first signing.

Mourinho trusted the 22-year-old to solve the Red Devils' defensive woes and paid a hefty sum of £30 million to Villarreal to secure his service. While it seemed a major gamble at that time, Bailly turned out to be a bargain. A ball playing defender with Vidicesque commitment, Bailly provided the much-needed solidity to United's backline and has become one of the first names on Mourinho's team sheet.