Ex-Premier League ‘bad Boy’ Ordered To Pay ₦636m Settlement To Super Eagles Star’s Sister

Ex-Premier League ‘bad boy’ ordered to pay ₦636m settlement to Super Eagles star’s sister Former Joey Barton has been ordered by a UK court to pay £339,000 (about ₦636 million) in damages and legal costs to football pundit Eniola Aluko after losing a libel case linked to a series of social-media posts.

The ruling follows a legal battle at the High Court in England, where Aluko accused the former midfielder of posting defamatory comments about her online. According to court proceedings, the judge found that Barton had carried out a sustained online attack against the former England international between January and August 2024. Lawyers representing Aluko told the court that Barton published dozens of posts on his X (formerly Twitter) account, which damaged her reputation and career as a football broadcaster. The court subsequently ruled in favour of Aluko, ordering Barton to pay compensation and cover legal costs amounting to £339,000. Aluko is widely known in Nigerian football circles as the sister of former Sone Aluko, who previously played for the Nigeria national football team, commonly known as the Super Eagles. She is also a former England international who later moved into punditry and football administration after retiring from professional football. Joey Barton, who played for clubs including Manchester City and Newcastle United, has long been considered one of the most controversial figures in English football due to several off-field incidents during his career.

The latest ruling adds another chapter to the former midfielder’s turbulent public image, as the court determined that his posts about Aluko were defamatory and unjustified. With the ruling now delivered, Barton is expected to pay the compensation ordered by the court unless he chooses to pursue an appeal.