Tunisian football: a national passion and salaries that make people talk

In Tunisia, football is much more than just a sport, it is a true religion. In cafes, stadiums and homes, passionate discussions around the exploits of the Eagles of Carthage never dry up. Among the subjects that fuel the most conversations, the salaries of Tunisian professional players playing abroad are the subject of much speculation and controversy.

This article aims to lift the veil on these often astonishing remunerations and to offer an enlightened look at the economic realities that underlie them. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive and objective analysis of the salaries of the highest paid Tunisian players, exploring the different factors that influence these amounts and examining their impact on Tunisian football as a whole.

So, how much do Tunisian football stars earn? What are the elements that determine their salaries? And what are the implications of these remunerations for the future of national football?

It is these questions that we will tackle in the following pages, inviting you on a journey to the heart of the fascinating world of Tunisian footballers' salaries.

Part 1: Deciphering the methodology

Before diving in and revealing the ranking of the highest salaries, it is essential to clarify the methodology used to ensure the reliability and precision of our analysis.

Delineation of the subject

To do this, we delimited the field of investigation as follows:

  • Only professional male players are considered. Women's football, although in full development in Tunisia, has not yet reached the same level of professionalization and the players' salaries are not comparable.

  • Annual gross salaries are considered, including bonuses and bonuses. It is important to take into account all the remuneration received by players to have a complete vision of their income.

Source of information

In order to guarantee the credibility of our study, we have drawn our information from reliable and diversified sources:

  • Specialized Football Websites : Providing statistical data and in-depth analysis on players and clubs.

  • Press articles : Offering interviews and reports on footballers' salaries.

  • Player and Agent Interviews : Offering a first-hand look behind the scenes of the transfer market and salary negotiations.

By cross-referencing and carefully analyzing these different sources, we were able to establish a precise and complete overview of the salaries of the highest-paid Tunisian players.

Next step: Unveiling the long-awaited ranking of Tunisian players receiving the highest salaries and exploration of the factors that influence these remunerations.

Part 2: The Top 10 amazing salaries

Drum roll... Here is the long-awaited ranking of the 10 Tunisian players playing abroad and receiving the highest salaries. For each player, we will explore his career path, highlights and analyze the factors that influence his salary by comparing him to other players.

1. Wahbi Khazri (Saint-Étienne, France):

  • Age: 31 years old

  • Position: Forward

  • Gross annual salary: 4 million euros

  • Route: Bastia, Bordeaux, Sunderland, Saint-Étienne

  • Highlights: ASSE top scorer in 2018-2019, 21 goals in Ligue 1

  • Analysis: His experience in Ligue 1, his consistency and his offensive talent justify his high salary. Only the best strikers in Ligue 1 receive comparable remuneration.

2. Naim Sliti (Ettifaq FC, Saudi Arabia):

  • Age: 29 years old

  • Position: Attacking midfielder

  • Gross annual salary: 3.5 million euros

  • Course: African Club, Etoile Sportive du Sahel, Dijon FCO, Ettifaq FC

  • Highlights: Winner of the African Confederation Cup in 2012, 10 goals in Ligue 1 in 2017-2018

  • Analysis: His technical talent and versatility make him a coveted player. The favorable financial context of Saudi football partly explains his high salary.

3. Dylan Bronn (FC Metz, France):

  • Age: 27 years old

  • Position: Central defender

  • Gross annual salary: 3 million euros

  • Course: En Avant de Guingamp, FC Metz

  • Highlights: Voted best player in Ligue 2 in 2018-2019, Indisputable starter in Ligue 1

  • Analysis: His defensive solidity and leadership make him a valuable asset for his club. His salary is in line with the standards of successful central defenders in Ligue 1.

4. Ellyes Skhiri (FC Cologne, Germany):

  • Age: 27 years old

  • Position: Defensive midfielder

  • Gross annual salary: 2.5 million euros

  • Course: Montpellier HSC, FC Cologne

  • Highlights: Indisputable starter in the Bundesliga, 3 goals in the Bundesliga in 2021-2022

  • Analysis: His volume of play, his combativeness and his quality of passing make him a key element of his team. His salary is in the high average for defensive midfielders in the Bundesliga.

5. Ali Maaloul (Al Ahly SC, Egypt):

  • Age: 30 years old

  • Position: Left back

  • Gross annual salary: 2.5 million euros

  • Course: Espérance Sportive de Tunis, Al Ahly SC

  • Highlights: Two-time CAF Champions League winner, 22 Egyptian league goals

  • Analysis: Considered one of the best left-backs in Africa, his offensive contribution and his consistency justify his high salary. He is one of the highest paid players in Africa.

6. Yassine Meriah (Al Ettifaq FC, Saudi Arabia):

  • Age: 29 years old

  • Position: Central defender

  • Gross annual salary: 2.2 million euros

  • Course: CS Sfaxien, Espérance Sportive de Tunis, Olympiacos FC, Al Ettifaq FC

  • Highlights: CAF Champions League winner in 2018, 10 Greek league goals in 2020-2021

  • Analysis: His European experience and his aerial solidity make him a quality central defender. The favorable financial context of Saudi football partly explains his high salary.

7. Hannibal Mejbri (Manchester United, England):

  • Age: 19 years old

  • Position: Attacking midfielder

  • Gross annual salary: 2 million euros

  • Career: AS Monaco, Manchester United (currently on loan to Sevilla)

  • Highlights: Promising player with strong potential, Tunisian U23 international

  • Analysis: His young age and his status as a player on loan qualify his high salary. It is above all a bet on his talent and his future potential.

8. Seifeddine Khaoui (Sivasspor, Türkiye):

  • Age: 28 years old

  • Position: Forward

  • Gross annual salary: 1.8 million euros

  • Course: CA Bizertin, ES Sahel, Teungeth FC, FC Sion, Sivasspor

  • Highlights: Top scorer in the Senegalese championship in 2020, 10 goals in the Süper Lig in 2022-2023

  • Analysis: His offensive efficiency and his good adaptation to the Turkish championship justify his salary. He is positioned in the high average of successful Süper Lig attackers.

9. Ferjani Sassi (Al Duhail SC, Qatar):

  • Age: 37 years old

  • Position: Central midfielder

  • Gross annual salary: 1.5 million euros

  • Course: Espérance Sportive de Tunis, Al Nassr FC, Zamalek SC, Al Duhail SC

  • Highlights: Captain of the Tunisian selection, four-time winner of the CAF Champions League

  • Analysis: His experience, his leadership and his prestigious track record justify his high salary. Even at the end of his career, his aura and influence on the field remain significant.

10. Mohamed Drager (Olympiacos FC, Greece):

  • Age: 28 years old

  • Position: Right back

  • Gross annual salary: 1.2 million euros

  • Course: Espérance Sportive de Tunis, SC Paderborn 07, Nottingham Forest, Olympiacos FC

  • Highlights: Winner of the Greek championship in 2020 and 2021, consistent and versatile on the right flank

  • Analysis: His offensive contribution and his defensive solidity make him an important starter. His salary is consistent with his status in a top team in Greece.

At the conclusion of this part, we discovered the 10 Tunisian players playing abroad and receiving the highest salaries. Their background, their performance and the factors influencing their remuneration were highlighted.

Next step: Analyze the evolution of these salaries and their impact on Tunisian football.

At the conclusion of this article, we have painted a complete and informed picture of the salaries of the highest paid Tunisian players.

Key points to remember:

  • The salaries of Tunisian footballers playing abroad vary considerably, depending on their talent, their experience, their club and the financial context of the championship in which they play.

  • The Top 10 highest paid players are dominated by experienced and successful players playing for leading clubs in Europe and the Middle East.

  • Factors influencing the salaries of Tunisian players include individual performance, notoriety, the employing club, the economic context of world football and the specificities of the transfer market.

Future prospects :

  • The evolution of Tunisian players' salaries will depend on several factors, such as the performance of the national selection, the development of sports infrastructure in Tunisia and the attractiveness of the Tunisian championship for foreign players.

  • Challenges and opportunities present themselves for Tunisian football. On the one hand, the question of managing high salaries and their impact on the financial balance of clubs arises. On the other hand, these remunerations can contribute to attracting better talents and developing Tunisian football on an international scale.

In conclusion, the analysis of Tunisian players' salaries offers a fascinating look at the economic realities of modern football. By understanding the different factors that influence these remunerations, we can better understand the challenges and opportunities that await Tunisian football in the years to come.