Top 5 African players with the most PL goals

An intense, fast-paced league with guaranteed goalmouth action, the Premier League has attracted some of the world greatest players.

The popularity of the league is still quickly growing and spreading across the world. African football has largely benefitted from work done by the Premier League with numerous grassroots level programs being created across the continent.

With a number of African stars plying their trade in the Premier League, viewers from the continent have steadily grown and increased. The league still boasts some of the world's finest goal scorers from Africa.

The likes of Mane, Salah and Mahrez have all lit up PL audiences but do not feature in the list of all-time PL top goal scorers from Africa.

Here we take a look at the top five Africans with the most number of goals in PL history.

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#5 Nwankwo Kanu - 54 goals

Kanu celebrates for Arsenal

Former Nigerian and PL player with Arsenal F.C., West Bromwich Albion F.C. and Portsmouth F.C., Nwankwo Kanu lit up PL games during his decade-long career in England. A tall striker, who began his career with Iwuanyanwu Nationale in Nigeria in 1992 moved to Ajax a year later and developed his ability.

After three seasons in Netherlands, Inter Milan signed the African, who went on to win two African Footballer of the Year awards in 1996 and 1999. The tricky striker fancied a move to England and joined Arsenal where he would spend six years winning two PL titles and two FA Cups.

Kanu scored 54 goals during his career in the PL and is number five on the all-time list of African players with the most PL goals. A 2-year spell with WBA ended in 2006 as the Nigerian joined Portsmouth and would finished his career with the club in 2012.

During his time at Portsmouth, Kanu won the FA Cup with the Pompey in 2008 and is still regarded as one of the best African players to have graced the PL.

#4 Yaya Toure - 59 goals

Manchester City F.C. is the only PL club Toure has played for

Despite not making regular appearances this season, Yaya Toure status as a Manchester City legend and prolific PL midfielder are secure. The former Barcelona player signed for City in 2010 and has gone on to make over 200 appearances for the club. Winning two PL titles and a FA Cup, Toure was influential in guiding the club to their first taste of silverware in recent history.

The Ivory Coast international has notched 59 goals in the PL in seven years and is one of the greatest box-to-box midfielders in PL history. The African has represented his club and nation with the highest respect and is a true great of the game who sits fourth on the all-time list of African players with the most PL goals.

The player began his career with Belgian side Beveren in 2001, before he moved to Metalurh Donetsk, Olympiacos and Monaco before Barcelona signed Toure in 2007. Three years at the Catalan giants saw Toure gain worldwide attention and stabilised the player as a top prospect.

#3 Yakubu Aiyegbeni - 95 goals

Yakubu during his time at Middlesbrough

Former Nigerian and PL player, Yakubu Aiyegbeni made his PL debut in the 2003-04 season with Portsmouth after helping the club win the first division title and gain promotion. After two permanent seasons and one on loan, Yakubu joined Middlesbrough F.C. in 2005, where he remained for two seasons and really made his mark in the league.

After netting 25 goals for Boro in over 70 appearances, Everton signed the Nigerian in 2007 and would go on to play under then Everton manager David Moyes for five seasons before he spent a year at Blackburn Rovers during the 11-12 season.

In 9 PL seasons with four different clubs, Yakubu notched 95 goals and sits third on the all-time list of Africans with the most number of goals in England's top flight.

However, Yakubu played for a number of other English clubs in the Championship during his long 20-year career that began in Nigeria with Julius Berger F.C. and finished in 2017 with Coventry City F.C. in England.

#2 Emmanuel Adebayor - 97 goals

Adebayor's infamous Manchester City celebration vs Arsenal

Togo and ?stanbul Ba?ak?ehir striker Emmanuel Adebayor is a former PL player with Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace. During his ten-year stay in the PL, Adebayor netted 97 goals and is second on the all-time list of African goal scorers in the league.

Arsenal signed the former Metz and Monaco forward in 2006, and quickly cemented his place in the club's starting line up with Robin van Persie. The two formed a healthy relationship with each other but in 2009, the African player opted to join Manchester City in what was considered a shock move.

However, the player failed to make a significant impact at City and was loaned to Real Madrid and Spurs, the latter who he joined in 2012, much to the disapproval of Arsenal fans yet again.

After three seasons at Spurs, Adebayor moved to Palace for a year to try and regain some confidence. One of the most prolific, controversial players from Africa, Adebayor caused a storm during his time in the PL.

#1 Didier Drogba - 104 goals

PL and Chelsea legend Drogba celebrates at Old Trafford

Didier Drogba is the greatest African striker to have graced the PL and holds the record for the most goals scored by an African player with 104 goals in England's top flight.

The Ivorian began his career in France with Le Mans in 1998 and secured his big move to Marseille from Guingamp in 2003. After a stellar year with Marseille, Drogba was lured to Chelsea by Jose Mourinho in 2004. He would go on to win all there is to win in European club football with the clubs across two spells spanning a decade in total.

Drogba left Chelsea in 2012 to join the CSL and then moved to Galatasaray in Turkey before rejoining Mourinho at the Bridge for a season. A legend at the club, Drogba also took part in many charity events to help build parts of Africa.

A sensational footballer and a lovely human being, Didier Drogba's impact and charisma in the PL will not be forgotten.