Salis Abdul Samed in England: Secured Higher Salary and Disaster due to Injury

Midfielder Salis Abdul Samed made headlines in the football community with his unexpected move to the Championship after playing in the 2023/24 Champions League. Although he secured a significantly higher salary at his new club, he hasn’t played a single full match yet. As his team battles amongst several strong contenders for a spot in the top three, Abdul Samed is sidelined due to a serious muscle injury, resulting in a decline in his transfer value.

What is Salis Abdul Samed’s Salary at Sunderland A.F.C.?

The Ghanaian national team midfielder joined Sunderland A.F.C. on loan from RC Lens in the summer of 2024, with the loan agreement lasting until June 30, 2025. For the 2023/2024 season, he will earn €930,251, which breaks down to €17,889 per week, excluding bonuses. 

Team Overview: Abdul Samed among the highest-paid players

Sunderland A.F.C.’s total salary expenditure for the 2024/2025 season is €18,189,728 per year, or €349,802 per week. The highest-paid player on the team is midfielder Enzo Le Fee, a former member of the French youth national team and currently loaned from AS Roma, earning €4,186,131 annually, equating to €80,503 per week.

Salis Abdul Samed ranks fourth in salary within the team, sharing this position with Irish player Alan Browne. He stands out as the highest-paid African player at Sunderland A.F.C., with Cameroonian goalkeeper Blondy Nna Noukeu earning 2.5 times less.

Comparison of career salaries

After an impressive debut in League 1 with Clermont Foot 63, Salis Abdul Samed moved to another French club, where his salary increased nearly 17-fold. His loan to Sunderland A.F.C. saw his earnings rise by almost €100,000, marking the highest point in his career thus far.

Market value: decline after the best season of his career

Following two successful years on loan at Clermont Foot 63, Abdul Samed powered them to promotion to the elite French division, after which he signed his first full contract. Before making his debut in League 1, his transfer value increased by over 2.5 times. After a standout season in 2021/22, he landed a lucrative contract with RC Lens, causing his transfer fee to rise 7.5 times. The 2022/23 season was his breakthrough year, featuring two goal contributions and establishing him as a regular starter, as well as being a key factor as they finished second in the French championship.

As a result, his value soared sixfold, reaching its peak. Unfortunately, midway through the following season, he began to lose his starting position. Since then, a loan period at Sunderland during which he sustained an injury, saw his transfer value plummet by more than 2.5 times. Currently, Transfermarkt.com values him at €7 million, making it the fourth highest among players at Sunderland A.F.C.

Achievements with the National team

Salis Abdul Samed made his debut for the Ghana national team in the fall of 2022 during a friendly match against Switzerland, just a week before the World Cup. He participated in two major tournaments with the team: the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup. Unfortunately, in both tournaments, Ghana was unable to advance past the group stage. To date, Abdul Samed has played 19 matches for the national team and has contributed two assists.

Prospects

The 2024/2025 season started poorly for Salis Abdul Samed, as he suffered a serious muscle injury before the Championship even began. After returning to the field at the end of January, he played several matches but soon found himself back on the bench due to another injury. If he is unable to recover and rejoin the team before the end of his loan, the once-promising midfielder faces an uphill battle to regain his place at RC Lens, leaving his future shrouded in uncertainty.