Kamaldeen Sulemana Faces Setbacks Amidst Injuries: Salary and Prospects of the Ghanaian Winger

In the ongoing 2023/2024 season, Southampton F.C. is making a successful bid for a return to the Premier League, currently holding the second position, one point ahead of its closest pursuers. However, not all players on the team are experiencing a favorable season, as the talented Ghanaian winger Kamaldeen Sulemana has been sidelined for the past two months due to injury, impacting both his on-field performance and demand in the transfer market.

Kamaldeen Sulemana’s Salary at Southampton F.C. 

Joining the English club in the winter of 2023, Sulemana’s contract extends until June 30, 2027. Over four years in England, the Ghanaian international is set to earn €9,813,898, excluding bonuses. For the current season (2023/2024), Sulemana’s salary is €2,431,221, equivalent to €46,754 per week.

Team Salary Overview: Sulemana Among the Highest-Paid African Players

In the 2023/2024 season, Southampton F.C.’s total wage expenditure amounts to €47,682,327 per year, or €916,968 per week, with only Leicester City F.C. surpassing them in wage spending. Sulemana ranks ninth in the team’s salary hierarchy, sharing the position with Argentine midfielder Carlos Alcaraz. Additionally, he secures the fifth spot among the highest-paid foreign players on the English club.

Career Salary Comparison

During the 2020/2021 season, the Ghanaian winger scored 10 goals and provided 8 assists, becoming the top scorer of the team in the Danish Superliga. Thanks to his outstanding performances, Sulemana attracted the attention of top European clubs, including AFC Ajax, Liverpool F.C., and OGC Nice. However, the Ghanaian signed a contract with Stade Rennais F.C., and the move to Ligue 1 resulted in the winger’s salary increasing by more than 10.5 times.

Despite Kamaldeen Sulemana’s impressive start in France, scoring a goal in his debut game, he lost his place in the starting lineup in the second season. Seeking a change of scenery, the winger transferred to Southampton F.C. during the winter transfer window of the 2022/2023 season, a period when the English club was battling to secure a place in the Premier League. The agreement with the English team increased the player’s earnings by more than fourfold. As a result, the Ghanaian winger currently enjoys the highest salary of his career.

Market Value: Sulemana is Among the Three Most Expensive Players in Southampton F.C. Despite the Decline

Over a season and a half at FC Nordsjaelland, Sulemana not only became one of the key players for the team, tallying 22 goal involvements and attracting interest from top clubs but also increased his own transfer value by 90 times. In just six months since his debut for Stade Rennais F.C., the transfer fee for the Ghanaian winger more than doubled, reaching its peak. Kamaldeen Sulemana seamlessly integrated into the starting lineup of the French club, scoring five goals in all competitions and helping the team advance to the spring stage of the Conference League. However, a back injury caused him to miss a significant portion of the second half of the season, leading to a €2 million decrease in his market value.

Nevertheless, after his move to England, the winger’s transfer value increased again and returned to its highest level. Despite Southampton F.C. failing to maintain a spot in the top division, the Ghanaian showcased quality gameplay, scoring two goals and providing an assist. However, Sulemana missed more than half of the 2023/2024 season due to injuries. The lack of playing time resulted in a 1.25-fold decrease in the Ghanaian’s transfer value. Currently, Transfermarkt values the Ghanaian winger at €16 million.

Despite the decrease in value, Sulemana is among the three most expensive players for the English club, sharing the position with striker Adam Armstrong. Additionally, the winger occupies the fourth spot in the ranking of the most expensive Ghanaian players and completes the top 5 among all players in the Championship.

Achievements with the National Team

Debuting for the Ghanaian national team in 2020, Sulemana has since represented his country in various competitions, including the African Cup of Nations and the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Despite setbacks and injuries, he remains a promising talent, having played 18 matches and contributing with an assist against Switzerland in a friendly.

Football and Financial Prospects

The 2023/2024 season has been challenging for Kamaldeen Sulemana, who returned to the field only in mid-September after missing the initial five Championship matches. Despite playing 13 matches, a knee tendon injury in late November has kept him out of the squad, with expectations of a return by the end of January. His return to the starting lineup will be crucial not only for a potential contract extension with Southampton F.C. on improved terms but also for attracting interest from top European clubs.

As Sulemana strives to overcome his injury woes and regain top form, his performance on the field will undoubtedly shape the trajectory of his career and influence his standing in the highly competitive football landscape.