This paper decodes various workings at play in the expatriation of African players to Europe. The early nature of their migration and the fragmentation of their trajectories are explained by the speculation that surrounds them. The socio-economic networks that carry speculative channels are revealed, which helps us to understand in particular the major role played by the European, and now Asian, clubs, which serve as intermediaries in the high value-added chain with the highest “eviction rate” in the world.