WHO IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE PLAYER IN SOUTHERN AFRICA?

Enock Mwepu (Left) with Patson Daka (Photo credit: Getty Images)

Again Zambia will break history records in Southern Africa by producing one of the most expensive player in Patson Daka.

Daka, who is set to join English side Leicester City, will become the first Southern African player to fetch as high as €25 million becoming the only and most expensive player in the region.

Zambia is known for producing world class players but Daka is just cut from another cloth.

The 22 year old broke another record by becoming the first Zambian to win a player of the season award in Europe in the Austrian Bundesliga.

His stunning 34 goals in all competition ensured that he won the Austrian Golden Boot Award.

Thus far Daka remains the most expensive player in the region followed by yet another Zambian Enock Mwepu who is valued at €13 million. Mwepu shares the same spot as Zimbabwe's Tino Kadewere who is in the books of French side Lyoinese.

Tino Kadewere

How did Daka get here?

Daka began his football career at Nchanga Rangers at the age of 10 before joining Kafue Celtic who later loaned him to Power Dynamoes Football Club.

Daka had a difficult season at Power Dynamoes. During the same time at a tender age of around 17, he received his first call up at the national team which was unsuccessful.

Patson Daka

There was widespread criticism but that did not stop him from believing that one day he would become the best player in Zambia attracting interest from the world biggest teams.

Daka's success started when Kafue Celtic loaned him to Red Bull Salzburg feeder club FC Liefering.

At Liefering, he announced himself by scoring a goal during the UEFA Youth Cup final which Liefering won.

During this same time, Daka won the Under 20 Africa Cup with Zambia and made a quarterfinal appearance at the Under 20 World Cup in Korea.

These achievements resulted in Daka winning the 2017 CAF Young Player of the Year Award.

Daka was later promoted to the Salzburg main team.

Daka at Salzburg

During 2019/20 league season, Daka was the clubsc second goal scorer behind red hot Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haalands.

When Haalands left Salzburg, Daka become the main striker and everyone looked up to him to make those runs and score goals for the Austrian giants.

Daka did not disappoint and lived up to people's expectations by scoring the most number of goals which saw Salzburg defending the league title and bagging the European Cup.

Daka at national team

Daka has scored about seven time for Zambia. The latest goals came during the 2022 Africa Cup qualifiers when he scored four goals.