A list of the greatest African players in Manchester United history does not feature a neighbourhood name on the continent — but maybe in the near future, because the club does not have a knack for Africans.

Since Quinton Fortune became their first-ever African player in the summer of 1999, only eleven more from the continent have arrived at the red side of Manchester, making only twelve in total.

In this article, we rank the 10 greatest African players in the history of Manchester United, starting from the best to the best, based on longevity, performances, and achievements.

The 10 Greatest African Players in Manchester United History

10. Wilfried Zaha | First Ivorian in Manchester United history 

• Nationality: Ivory Coast
• Position: Winger
• United appearances: 4
• United goals: 0

Wilfried Zaha ranks last in our ranking of the 10 greatest African players in Manchester United history, as he was not really afforded the chance to star, as confessed by the player himself during an interview in 2014.

A young Zaha became the first Ivorian to sign for Manchester United following his transfer from Crystal Palace in the winter of 2013. He went on to win his first silverware on his debut, in the Community Shield win over Wigan later that summer.

Zaha made a total of four appearances for United and went on a couple of loans before securing a permanent return to Palace in January 2015.

He was one of the best dribblers in the Premier League during his time, but all the highlights were for Palace, where he now ranks as one of their greatest players.

10. Mame Biram Diouf | First Senegalese in Manchester United history 

• Nationality: Senegal
• Position: Striker
• United appearances: 9
• United goals: 1

In the summer of 2009, Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed that the club had signed a young player they had been looking at for two years. That player was 21-year-old Mame Biram Diouf, who now ranks ninth in the list of 10 greatest African players in Manchester United history.

Diouf didn’t join United until he was granted a work permit in the following window in January, and that same month, he scored his only goal for the club, after coming off the bench to replace Wayne Rooney in a 3-0 victory over Burnley on his home debut.

He was sent out on loan to Blackburn Rovers in the summer, where he again scored on his debut, a hat-trick in a 3-1 win over Norwich City in the League Cup, and followed it up with a goal against Arsenal on his first Premier League start.

That was as good as it got for the striker, who was sold to Bundesliga side Hannover 96 for an undisclosed fee the following summer, adding no further to his nine appearances for the Red Devils.

9. Bryan Mbeumo | Most Expensive African in Manchester United history 

• Nationality: Cameroon
• Position: Forward
• United appearances: 4
• United goals: 2

Bryan Mbeumo may be relatively early in his time at the club, but he already ranks as one of the greatest African players in Manchester United's history due to his impressive start.

Four games after his £65 million move from Brentford in the summer of 2025, and he has already scored two goals, proving himself worthy as the most expensive African in the club’s history.

Still very early, but the former Brentford man has all it takes to dethrone Fortune and become the greatest African player in Manchester United history.

8. Sofyan Amrabat | First Moroccan to Win Emirates FA Cup 

• Nationality: Morocco
• Position: Midfielder
• United appearances: 39
• United goals: 0

Following his good reputation at the FIFA World Cup with Morocco and at Fiorentina in the Conference League, Manchester United decided to give Sofyan Amrabat a try and secured his services on loan for the 2023-24 season.

The agreement with Fiorentina included an option for a permanent deal, but his performances were not deemed worthy, although he did become the first-ever Moroccan to win the Emirates FA Cup with the club.

With 39 appearances during the season, Amrabat returned to Fiorentina in the summer, and from there he joined Turkish side Fenerbahçe on loan, although that was ultimately made permanent.

7. Noussair Mazraoui | Most Manchester United Appearances in a Season by an African player 

• Nationality: Morocco
• Position: Defender
• United appearances: 58
• United goals: 0

Noussair Mazraoui was arguably Manchester United’s best signing of the 2024 summer transfer window following an impressive debut season on the back of a €15 million move from Bayern Munich.

The defender constantly delivered impressive performances across all competitions for the club, despite having to play in different roles and under three different managers.

With 57 appearances in his first season, Mazraoui already ranks as one of the most featured Africans at Manchester United and also ranks as one of the best to play for the Red Devils.

6. Odion Ighalo | First Nigerian to Play for Manchester United 

• Nationality: Nigeria
• Position: Striker
• United appearances: 23
• United goals: 5

Odion Ighalo ranks as one of the greatest African players in Manchester United history. The striker became the first-ever Nigerian to sign for the club after becoming the first African to join Manchester United on loan in January 2020.

To make what he called a dream move materialize, the former Watford striker stated that he had to agree to a pay cut, and he went on to score on his full debut, opening the scoring in a 5-0 Europa League round of 16 second leg win over Club Brugge.

Ighalo’s loan was extended by six more months, and he went on to make a total of 23 appearances across all competitions, scored five goals, and ranks as one of the greatest African players in Manchester United history.

Top 5 Greatest African Players in Manchester United History 

5. Eric Djemba-Djemba | First Cameroonian in Manchester United history 

• Nationality: Cameroon
• Position: Midfielder
• United appearances: 39
• United goals: 2

Eric Djemba-Djemba arrived at a competitive Manchester United midfield in the summer of 2003, as the club paraded top stars and now club legends, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick, and Kleberson, who had arrived earlier with an astonishing reputation from the World Cup.

The Cameroonian spent just two full seasons at the club and managed to impress in the first 15 months, but soon fell off, as he was unable to succeed the ageing players due to his poor form and the emergence of better players.

Djemba-Djemba was sold to Aston Villa in January 2005, after winning two silverwares and scoring two goals, one of which was an extra-time winner over Leeds United in a League Cup third-round meeting in 2003.

4. Amad Diallo | Highest Scoring African in Manchester United history 

• Nationality: Ivory Coast
• Position: Winger
• United appearances: 68
• United goals: 14

Amad Diallo ranks as one of the 10 greatest African players in Manchester United history. The Ivorian is one of the most loved on the red side of Manchester despite coming at a time when the club is only surviving.

It took time before he managed to tie down a place following his €40 million move from Atalanta in the winter of 2022, when he first spent a year at the club, before leaving on a couple of loans to Rangers and then Sunderland.

As of the start of September 2025, Amad has made 68 Manchester United appearances and scored 14 goals, the latter a record for Africans at the club, placing him third in the list of African players with the most Man United appearances.

3. André Onana | First African Goalkeeper in Manchester United history 

• Nationality: Cameroon
• Position: Goalkeeper
• United appearances: 102
• Clean sheets: 24

André Onana became the first African goalkeeper to sign for Manchester United when he joined from Inter in the summer of 2023, and the Cameroonian went on to enjoy two full seasons as the undisputed number one before necessity demanded he had to be replaced.

The former Barcelona academy star became only the second Cameroonian to play for Manchester United following his debut in a 1-0 win over Wolves at Old Trafford, back in August 2023.

After just over two years, Onana leaves the club on a season-long loan, a move that signals the end of his time at the club altogether, as a result of inconsistent performances, and the acquisition of a new shot-stopper, Senne Lammens.

Despite these, André Onana ranks as the second greatest African player in Manchester United history, playing an important part in their only silverware during his time, the 2023-24 FA Cup, where he delivered a masterclass performance against Liverpool in the semi-finals to ensure the team reached the final.

2. Eric Bailly | Second greatest African Player in Manchester United History

• Nationality: Ivory Coast
• Position: Centre-back
• United appearances: 113
• United goals: 1

One of José Mourinho’s signings in his first season at the club, Eric Bailly, didn’t quite live up to the billing, although he managed to linger long enough to rank first in the list of 10 greatest African players in Manchester United history.

The centre-back arrived from Villarreal in the summer of 2016 and left seven years later in 2023, although his final season was spent on loan at Marseille in France.

Bailly battled with a series of injuries and never really had a long run in the team, missing over 130 games altogether while managing to feature in 113, the second-most by an African for the club.

He was pivotal in the Europa League conquest in his debut season, featuring in 11 of 13 games, only missing the final due to suspension and the round of 16 first leg away to Rostov. He also won one Community Shield and an EFL Cup.

1. Quinton Fortune | Greatest African Player in Manchester United History

• Nationality: South Africa
• Position: Right-back / Midfielder
• United appearances: 126
• United goals: 11

Quinton Fortune became the first-ever African to play for Manchester United in 1999, when he signed from Spanish side Atlético Madrid in a £1.5 million deal, and is so far the greatest African player in the club’s history.

Although he was initially signed as a squad player, the South African went on to establish himself as one of the core of Sir Alex Ferguson’s setup in the early years of the 21st century.

Fortune also maintains a reputation as the most successful African in Man United history, winning three league titles, an FA Cup, and one Community Shield as he totaled 126 appearances, also a record for African players at the club.

Conclusion | 10 Greatest African Players in Manchester United History 

Of all the African players in Manchester United history, only Manucho is not featured in the list, and Quinton Fortune remains the greatest, while also holding the record for most appearances.

Amad Diallo is the top scorer with 14 goals, while André Onana, who kept 24 clean sheets in 102 games, is the only African goalkeeper in the history of Manchester United.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka, the right-back, had left Manchester United before switching international allegiance to DR Congo.