Ibrahim Sadiq’s Eredivisie Struggle: Salary Insights and Future Prospects

After impressive performances in the Europa League qualifiers, the Ghanaian winger secured a long-term contract with AZ Alkmaar. However, his transition to the new team has been marred by injuries and a dip in form. The young winger now finds himself battling not for attention from top-tier leagues but for a stable spot in the lineup and consistent playtime.

Ibrahim Sadiq’s Salary at AZ Alkmaar 

The former Ghana youth international joined the Dutch club in the autumn of 2023 with a contract set to expire on June 30, 2028. Over five years in the Netherlands, Sadiq is set to earn €1,800,000, excluding bonuses. For the 2023/2024 season, he will receive €360,000, which breaks down to €6,923 weekly.

Team Salary Overview: Ibrahim Sadiq is Ranked 12th  

In the 2023/2024 season, AZ Alkmaar’s total salary expenditure amounts to €9,660,000 annually, or €185,769 weekly. The club ranks among the Eredivisie’s top five in terms of salary expenditures. The highest-paid player on the team is defender Denso Kasius, a Dutch youth national team player, who earns €880,000 a year, or €16,923 weekly.

Ibrahim Sadiq holds the 12th spot in the team’s salary rankings, a position he shares with Dutch defender Wouter Goes. Among the club’s foreign players and those under 23 years old, this ranks him sixth. Tiago Dantas from Portugal, on loan from C.D. Tondela, earns €60,000 less than Sadiq. Notably, Sadiq is also the second highest-paid non-European player at AZ Alkmaar, trailing only Australian Mathew Ryan, whose salary is twice as much as Sadiq’s. Japanese player Yukinari Sugawara, earning half as much as Sadiq, rounds out the top three.

Eredivisie and African Player Salary Rankings 

Sadiq is the fourth highest-paid African player in the Eredivisie. Tjaronn Chery, a Surinamese midfielder from NEC Nijmegen, follows closely, earning €10,000 less than him.

Career Salary Comparison

Following several successful seasons in Denmark, Sadiq moved to BK Hacken, where his salary approximately doubled. After winning two trophies and helping his team qualify for European competitions, he signed with AZ Alkmaar, increasing his earnings by more than 3.5 times, marking the highest salary of his career.

Market Value 

Initially, Sadiq’s market value increased significantly during his time with FC Nordsjaelland in Norway, multiplying tenfold. However, reduced playing time in his last season there led to a nearly 1.5 times decrease in his transfer value. His stint in Sweden with BK Hacken, culminating in two trophies and a group stage appearance in the 2023/2024 Europa League, saw his transfer value quadruple. Nonetheless, frequent injuries and adaptation challenges in his current season have seen his market value drop by 1.5 times, with Transfermarkt currently valuing him at €2 million.

National Team Achievements 

Sadiq has represented Ghana at the U17 and U20 levels, participating in the 2017 World Cup in India where the team reached the quarterfinals. Sadiq contributed three goal involvements (1 goal and 2 assists). Despite his youth successes, he has yet to receive a call-up to the senior national team.

Football and Financial Prospects

The season began promisingly for Sadiq with a group stage appearance in the Europa League with BK Hacken. However, his move to the Eredivisie team has resulted in limited playing time. To date, he has missed over half the league matches, mainly due to benching or injuries. Despite these setbacks, Sadiq has managed to score in the Conference League and assist in a match against PEC Zwolle. If he can adapt and regain his previous form, there’s a chance he could attract interest from top-five league teams.