Musa began his career in the GBS Football Academy.
Breakthrough in Nigeria In 2008, Musa was loaned to
JUTH F.C. where he played 18 games, scoring four goals in his first two professional seasons for the Healers. He was subsequently loaned to
Kano Pillars F.C., in the
2009–10 season where he set the league record scoring multiple crucial goals as Pillars finished second. Musa held the record for the highest goals ever scored in one season in the history of the
Nigeria Premier League until November 2011, when
Jude Aneke of
Kaduna United F.C. set a new record of 20 goals.
VVV-Venlo Musa was transferred to
Dutch club
VVV-Venlo in summer 2010, but the move was held up because he was only 17 years of age and therefore not eligible for an ITC in accordance with the current FIFA rules. He was officially eligible to play for
VVV-Venlo on 14 October 2010 when he eventually turned 18 years of age. Less than a week after arriving at the club, Musa made his debut for
VVV-Venlo against
FC Groningen on 30 October. He started the game for
VVV-Venlo, was fouled in the 50th minute and received a penalty kick. Rated by Goal.com amongst the Hot 100 young football stars in the world to watch in 2011, Lolade Adewuyi of Goal.com put him on the list of Top Ten Nigerian International Players of 2010 and was also included in
IFFHS list of the best 140 players in the world. On 8 March 2011, Ahmed Musa won the AIT footballer of the year award (national). The ceremony was held at the Presidential Hotel,
Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The event had in attendance,
BBC African Footballer of the Year winner, Ghanaian
Asamoah Gyan and the top officials from the Nigerian football federation including the president
Aminu Maigari. In April, Venlo's football director Mario Captien said that representatives of
Tottenham Hotspur had visited the club regarding the player, also
Ajax scout
Tijani Babangida said that Ajax were interested in Musa but that the outcome would be decided at the end of the season. On 1 May 2011, Musa hit a brace to sink
Feyenoord 3–2 and end any lingering fears of automatic relegation from the Eredivisie. In August 2011, after returning from the
2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia, Musa made his first appearance of the 2011–12 season at home against
AFC Ajax and scored two goals. In September VVV-Venlo chairman Hai Berden disclosed on
Eredivisie Live that
VVV-Venlo had turned down a last minute bid of €10 million for Musa from the
Bundesliga. The name of the
Bundesliga club was not disclosed.
CSKA Moscow On 7 January 2012, Musa signed for Russian side
CSKA Moscow for an undisclosed fee. On 17 September 2014 he scored an 82nd minute consolation goal in a 5–1
UEFA Champions League away rout to
A.S. Roma. On 1 June 2015, Musa signed a new four-year contract with CSKA until the end of the 2018–19 season. He finished the
2015–16 Russian Premier League season as the 5th highest scorer, becoming one of only seven players aged 23 or younger to reach double figures for goals in each of the past two seasons in Europe's top seven leagues.
Leicester City at
Stamford Bridge on 15 October 2016 On 8 July 2016, Musa moved to
Leicester City for a club record £16.6 million. He scored his first goals with the club in a friendly against
Barcelona in the
2016 International Champions Cup which ended in a 4–2 loss. He made his
Premier League debut on 13 August 2016 in the club's opening day 2–1 defeat to
Hull City. He scored his first Premier League goal with the opener in a 3–1 victory over
Crystal Palace on 22 October 2016. By January 2017, Musa was yet to register an assist for the club, contributing an average of 0.5 key passes, 0.3 crosses and 1.2 successful dribbles per game.
Loan return to CSKA Moscow On 30 January 2018, Musa returned to
CSKA Moscow on loan for the remainder of the
2017–18 season.
Al Nassr On 4 August 2018, Musa moved to Saudi Arabian side
Al Nassr on a permanent deal. In October 2020, Al Nassr announced that Musa was leaving. It was reported that Premier League club
West Bromwich Albion were expected to complete a move for Musa in the January transfer window for the 2020–21 season, but the move fell through.
Return to Kano Pillars On 13 April 2021, Musa rejoined Nigerian club
Kano Pillars until the end of the 2020–21 season.
Turkey Fatih Karagümrük On 23 July 2021, Musa joined Turkish club
Fatih Karagümrük, signing a two-year contract. After one season, Musa terminated his contract on a mutual agreement.
Sivasspor On 2 September 2022, Musa signed on a free transfer for Turkish club
Sivasspor on a two-year deal. His contract was terminated on mutual agreement.
Third spell at Kano Pillars In October 2024, Musa returned to Kano Pillars for a third stint. ==International career==