Salis Abdul Samed’s Loan Spell in England Turns Sour Despite Record Salary

Midfielder Salis Abdul Samed made headlines in the football community with his unexpected move to the Championship after featuring in the 2023/24 Champions League. Although he secured a significantly higher salary at his new club, he has yet to complete a full match. As his team fights for a spot in the top three, Abdul Samed is sidelined with 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 2024/2025 season, he will earn €930,251, which breaks down to €17,889 per week, excluding bonuses.

Team Salary 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 Fée, a former French youth international currently on loan from AS Roma, earning €4,186,131 annually, or €80,503 per week.

Salis Abdul Samed ranks fourth in the team’s salary structure, sharing this position with Irish midfielder Alan Browne. They are followed by English midfielder Jobe Bellingham, who earns over €155,000 less.

Additionally, Abdul Samed is the fourth highest-paid foreign player at Sunderland. The lowest-paid foreign player, Colombian winger Ian Poveda, earns less than half of Abdul Samed’s salary. Notably, Abdul Samed also holds the highest salary among African players at the club. The next highest-paid African, Cameroonian goalkeeper Blondy Nna Noukeu, earns 2.5 times less.

Career Salary Comparison

After an impressive debut in Ligue 1 with Clermont Foot 63, Salis Abdul Samed moved to another French club, where his salary increased nearly 17-fold. His loan move to Sunderland A.F.C. marked another jump, with his earnings rising by almost €100,000 — the highest point in his career so far.

Market Value: Decline After the Best Season of His Career

Following two successful years on loan at Clermont Foot 63, Abdul Samed played a key role in the club’s promotion to Ligue 1, after which he signed his first full contract. Before making his top-flight debut, his transfer value more than doubled. After a standout 2021/22 season, he signed with RC Lens, leading to a 7.5-fold increase in his transfer fee.

The 2022/23 season was the most successful of his career — he contributed two goals, became a regular starter, and helped Lens finish second in Ligue 1. As a result, his market value reached a peak.

Unfortunately, midway through the following season, he began losing his starting place. A loan move, coupled with injury setbacks, caused his value to drop by more than 2.5 times. Currently, Transfermarkt values him at €7 million — the fourth highest among Sunderland players.

Achievements With the National Team

Salis Abdul Samed made his debut for the Ghana national team in the fall of 2022 during a friendly against Switzerland, just a week before the World Cup. He has since participated in two major tournaments — the World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations — though Ghana failed to progress beyond the group stage in both. To date, Abdul Samed has earned 19 caps and contributed two assists for the national team.

Football and Financial Prospects

The 2024/2025 season started poorly for Abdul Samed, as he sustained a serious muscle injury before the Championship campaign began. After returning to the field at the end of January, he played a few matches but soon found himself back on the bench due to another injury. If he fails to recover and contribute significantly before the end of his loan, it is likely he will struggle to reclaim a starting position at his parent club, RC Lens.