Most expensive player!

Rest Mutore, Sports Reporter

TINO Kadewere became the country’s most expensive player after completing his move to French top-flight side Lyon from second tier side Le Havre AC for a reported €15 million deal.

HAC confirmed Wednesday that the two teams have agreed terms but Kadewere will be loaned back until the end of the season.

The Warriors star is expected to complete medicals today before the official unveiling.

After this move, Kadewere becomes the most expensive player in Zimbabwe eclipsing Marvelous Nakamba of Aston Villa.

Nakamba joined the English Premier League side Villa from Club Brugge in Belgium for a deal around €12 million.

Kadewere’s market value rose significantly following his exploits at HAC – where he scored 18 goals in 20 matches.

On December 23 last year, H-Metro Sport revealed that Lyon had made an approach for Kadewere with an initial bid of €7 million which was rejected by HAC.

Interests from other clubs across Europe, including the English Premiership, then delayed the conclusion of the move until Wednesday’s announcement.

Kadewere is currently the leading scorer in the Domino Ligue 2.

Some of the Zimbabwean footballers who held the most expensive footballer record before Kadewere and Nakamba are former Warriors captain Benjani Mwaruwari, Peter Ndlovu and Knowledge Musona.

Benjani joined Manchester City, from Portsmouth on February 5, 2008, on a £3.87 million two-and-a-half-year deal – equivalent to €4,5 million.

The deal had a clause that the transfer fee was set to rise to £7.6 million – about €8,6 million – in the event the Zimbabwean made 75 senior starts for City, which he failed.

Peter Ndlovu, the first on-field Zimbabwean player to play in England, made history back in 1997 when he joined Birmingham City from Coventry for £1,6 million (about €2,25 million).

Warriors captain Knowledge Musona is fourth on list after his move to TSG Hoffenheim in Bundesliga from Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa cost €1, 50 million.

 

1. Tino Kadewere

January 22, 2020 Le Havre AC (France) to Lyon (France) €15 million

2. Marvelous Nakamba

August 1, 2019 Club Brugge (Belgium) to Aston Villa (England) €12 million

 

3. Benjani Mwaruwari

February 5 2008 Portsmouth (England) to Manchester City (England) €4,5 million

4. Peter Ndlovu

July 1997 Coventry City (England) to Birmingham City (England) €2,25 million

5. Knowledge Musona

July 2011 Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) to TSG Hoffenheim (Germany) €1,50 million

December 2014 HSG Hoffeinheim (Germany) to KV Oostende (Belgium) undisclosed fee

May 2018 KV Oostende (Belgium) to Anderlecht (Belgium) undisclosed fee

6. Khama Billiat

August 2013 Ajax Cape Town (South Africa) to Mamelodi Sundowns FC (South Africa) €690 000

January 1, 2018 Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) to Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) Free transfer

 

– HMETRO