African Football Migration: Aspirations, Experiences and Trajectories

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The global success of football icons like Samuel Etoo, Didier Drogba and Mohamed Salah has fuelled the migratory projects of countless young men across the African continent who dream of following in their footsteps. Drawing on over a decade of ethnographic research, the book chronicles the experiences and trajectories of those pursuing this highly prized form of transnational migration. This book uncovers and traces the myriad actors, networks and institutions that affect the ability of young people across the continent to realise social mobility through footballs global production network.

The book sheds critical light on the barriers to social mobility erected by neoliberal capitalism, and how these are negotiated. It also generates original interdisciplinary perspectives on the complex interplay between structural forces and human agency, as young players navigate an industry rife with commercial speculation.

Author Bio

Paul Darby is a Reader in the Sociology of Sport at Ulster University

James Esson is a Reader in Human Geography at Loughborough University

Christian Ungruhe is a Research Fellow in Social Anthropology at Erasmus University Rotterdam