AJ Auxerre is struggling in Ligue 1 this season, with only six points in seven games. However, one bright spot has been the performances of midfielder Elisha Owusu, whose contributions helped the team stay just above the relegation zone after their match against Stade Brestois 29. After recovering from injuries and securing a new contract, Owusu has become a key player in the team’s midfield. Even if AJ Auxerre is relegated, there’s a good chance Owusu could stay in the top tier of French football.
What is Elisha Owusu’s Salary at AJ Auxerre?
Elisha Owusu joined AJ Auxerre in the winter of 2023. Despite suffering a significant injury, he signed a contract extension in January 2024, securing his place at the club until June 30, 2027. Over three years, Owusu will earn €2,160,000, excluding bonuses. For the 2024/2025 season alone, he is set to earn €720,000, which breaks down to €13,846 per week.
|
Annual Salary |
€ 720,000 |
12,542,045 Ghanaian Cedis |
|
Monthly Salary |
€ 60,000 |
1,045,170 Ghanaian Cedis |
|
Weekly Salary |
€ 13,846 |
241,191 Ghanaian Cedis |
|
Daily Salary |
€ 1,978 |
34,456 Ghanaian Cedis |
Owusu Among AJ Auxerre’s Highest-Paid Foreign Players
In the 2024/2025 season, AJ Auxerre’s total wage budget amounts to €16,200,000, which averages out to €311,538 per week across the squad. The club’s highest-paid player is midfielder Hamed Junior Traore, who is on loan from AFC Bournemouth, earning €2,730,000 per year, or €52,500 per week.
Elisha Owusu ranks sixth in the club’s salary hierarchy, tied with three other players. Among foreign players, he is fifth highest-paid. Brazilian defender Jubal earns €20,000 less than Owusu annually. In terms of African players at the club, Owusu ranks third, with Senegalese midfielder Assane Diousse trailing him by €100,000.
|
Player |
Country |
Annual Salary (EUR) |
|
Hamed Junior Traore |
Cote d’Ivoire |
€ 2,730,000 |
|
Ki-Jana Hoever |
Netherlands |
€ 2,500,000 |
|
Ado Onaiwu |
Japan |
€ 840,000 |
|
Sinaly Diomande |
Cote d’Ivoire |
€ 820,000 |
|
Elisha Owusu |
Ghana |
€ 720,000 |
|
Saad Agouzoul/Rayan Raveloson/Gabriel Osho |
Morocco/Madagascar/Nigeria |
€ 720,000 |
Owusu is also the fourth highest-paid Ghanaian player in Ligue 1, with his AJ Auxerre teammate Gideon Mensah earning nearly half as much.
|
Player |
Country |
Club |
Annual Salary (EUR) |
|
Mohammed Salisu |
Ghana |
AS Monaco FC |
€ 3,100,000 |
|
Ernest Nuamah |
Ghana |
Olympique Lyonnais |
€ 2,720,000 |
|
Alidu Seidu |
Ghana |
Stade Rennais F.C. |
€ 800,000 |
|
Elisha Owusu |
Ghana |
AJ Auxerre |
€ 720,000 |
|
Augustine Boakye |
Ghana |
AS Saint-Etienne |
€ 720,000 |
|
Gideon Mensah |
Ghana |
AJ Auxerre |
€ 420,000 |
Career Salary Comparison: From Setbacks to Steady Growth
During his loan to FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, Owusu’s salary dropped by more than three times. However, after moving to K.A.A. Gent, his earnings increased sevenfold in his first season. Although his salary later decreased by €100,000, his move back to France brought another increase of 1.5 times. Despite missing most of the 2022/2023 season due to injury, AJ Auxerre extended his contract, doubling his salary to its highest level yet.
|
Club |
Salary Euro per Year (EUR) |
Salary Ghanaian Cedi per Year (GHS) |
|
AJ Auxerre (2023/2025) |
€ 720,000 |
12,542,045 Ghanaian Cedis |
|
AJ Auxerre (2022/2023) |
€ 400,000 |
6,967,803 Ghanaian Cedis |
|
K.A.A. Gent (2020/2023) |
€ 290,000 |
5,051,657 Ghanaian Cedis |
|
K.A.A. Gent (2019/2020) |
€ 390,000 |
6,793,608 Ghanaian Cedis |
|
FC Sochaux-Montbeliard (2018/2019) |
〜€ 55,636 |
〜969,152 Ghanaian Cedis |
|
Olympique Lyonnais (2017/2018) |
€ 170,000 |
2,961,316 Ghanaian Cedis |
Market Value: Bouncing Back in the Elite Division
After a stellar season in Ligue 2, Owusu’s market value increased 12.5 times. His move to Belgium saw it jump sixfold, peaking at €7.5 million. However, injuries and competition for playing time caused his value to decline over the following seasons. By the start of 2023/2024, his market value had dropped by nearly four times. Still, after winning Ligue 2 with AJ Auxerre, his value increased by 1.5 times, and he is now valued at €3 million, making him the fourth most valuable player at the club.
|
Club |
Year |
Market Value |
|
AJ Auxerre |
2024 (October) |
€ 3,000,000 |
|
AJ Auxerre |
2023 |
€ 2,000,000 |
|
K.A.A. Gent |
2022 |
€ 2,500,000 |
|
K.A.A. Gent |
2021 |
€ 5,500,000 |
|
K.A.A. Gent |
2020 |
€ 7,500,000 |
|
FC Sochaux-Montbeliard |
2019 |
€ 1,250,000 |
|
Olympique Lyonnais |
2018 |
€ 100,000 |
International Career and Achievements
Owusu debuted for the Ghana national team in 2022 and was part of the squad for the World Cup in Qatar, though he didn’t feature in any matches. He also played in the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, where Ghana failed to win a game and was eliminated in the group stage. In total, he has earned 10 caps for Ghana but is yet to score or provide an assist.
Future Prospects
For the 2024/2025 season, Elisha Owusu remains a key player for AJ Auxerre. He has played every game so far, scoring one goal and providing an assist. He even captained the team in their match against AS Saint-Etienne. At 26 years old, if Owusu continues to perform well and helps the club avoid relegation, stronger clubs may start to show interest in him.
