Players to watch out for
Michael Essien
Club: Chelsea (Transferred from Lyon to Chelsea for £24.5m and at one stage was the most expensive player on Chelsea’s squad)
Country: Ghana
Position: Central midfielder
Obafemi Martins
Club: Newcastle United (Transferred from Inter Milan to Newcastle United for £10m)
Country: Nigeria
Position: Striker
Kolo Toure
Club: Arsenal (Transferred from Ivory Coast club, undisclosed fee)
Country: Cote d’Ivoire
Position: Defender / Defensive midfielder
Didier Drogba (African player of the year 2007)
Club: Chelsea (Transferred from Marseille to Chelsea for £24m)
Country: Cote d’Ivoire
Position: Striker
John Obi Mikel
Club: Chelsea (Transferred from Lyn Oslo to Chelsea for £16m)
Country: Nigeria
Position: Attacking midfielder / defensive midfielder
Salomon Kalou
Club: Chelsea (Transferred from Feyernoord to Chelsea for an undisclosed fee)
Country: Cote d’Ivoire
Position: Forward / striker