The Premier League is home to some of the best football talent in the world, and with great talent comes great compensation. Weekly wages in England’s top flight have grown exponentially over the years, with star players earning staggering sums. From young breakout stars to seasoned veterans, players across the league are handsomely rewarded for their performances on the pitch. But how much exactly do these football stars earn every week?
A Financial Powerhouse
The Premier League is not just a football league; it’s a global entertainment brand. With TV rights deals that stretch into billions of pounds, lucrative sponsorships, and matchday revenues from millions of fans worldwide, clubs are able to offer their players eye-watering salaries. The financial power of the Premier League means that its players are among the best-paid athletes globally.
Clubs like Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool have the financial muscle to offer their top players weekly wages that can exceed £300,000. However, even players from mid-tier or smaller clubs in the Premier League earn amounts that would be life-changing for most people.
The Top Earners
At the top of the pay scale are the league’s biggest stars, the players who dominate headlines not just for their performances but for their staggering paychecks. In recent years, players like Mohamed Salah, Kevin De Bruyne, and Erling Haaland have commanded wages that reflect their status as world-class talents.
For example, Manchester City’s midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne is one of the highest-paid players in the Premier League. The Belgian earns an estimated £400,000 per week, a figure that places him among the elite in global football. His combination of skill, leadership, and consistency makes him indispensable to the reigning champions, and his wage packet reflects that.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, one of the most prolific goal scorers in Premier League history, signed a lucrative new contract in 2022 that sees him earning around £350,000 per week. This contract made Salah the highest-paid player in Liverpool’s history, underscoring his importance to the club.
Another standout example is Erling Haaland, Manchester City’s star striker, who took the league by storm upon his arrival. His salary reportedly hovers around £375,000 per week, reflecting his reputation as one of the most lethal finishers in the game.
The Wage Gap in the Premier League
While the top earners in the Premier League pull in salaries that dwarf those of the average worker, there is also a significant wage disparity within the league itself. Players at the top clubs can earn astronomical figures, while those at smaller or less successful clubs typically earn much less. However, “much less” in Premier League terms is still incredibly lucrative by most standards.
For instance, players at newly promoted clubs or mid-table teams might earn weekly wages ranging from £20,000 to £80,000, which is still a remarkable salary in the world of professional sports. Many young players, especially those coming from academy systems, start their Premier League careers on modest contracts, but as their value to the team grows, so too does their earning power.
Young Stars on the Rise
An interesting trend in recent years has been the rise of young talents who quickly ascend to top-tier wages. Premier League clubs are increasingly willing to offer big contracts to young stars, ensuring they secure their services before rivals can swoop in. Players like Bukayo Saka at Arsenal and Phil Foden at Manchester City have become indispensable to their clubs at a young age, and their salaries reflect their potential and importance.
Saka, for example, signed a new contract in 2023 that sees him earn approximately £200,000 per week. At just 22 years old, he is already one of Arsenal’s most important players and among the highest earners at the club. Similarly, Phil Foden, another young star with immense potential, signed a contract extension that reportedly sees him earning around £225,000 per week.
The Impact of High Wages
While high wages are part and parcel of modern football, they also bring challenges for clubs. Meeting the salary demands of top players often means walking a fine line between success and financial sustainability. Clubs that fail to manage their wage bills carefully can find themselves in financial trouble, as we’ve seen with teams in the past.
However, for the Premier League’s biggest clubs, the financial rewards of success — both on and off the pitch — make these huge wage packets more sustainable. Winning trophies, qualifying for the UEFA Champions League, and maintaining global fan bases help clubs generate the revenue needed to meet the wage demands of their stars.
In the Premier League, weekly wages have become a major talking point, with the league’s top players earning sums that place them among the highest-paid athletes in the world. The financial power of the league, driven by TV rights, sponsorship deals, and global appeal, allows clubs to offer astronomical salaries. While the top stars earn the most, even lesser-known players in the league make a fortune by most standards. As the league continues to grow, so too will the earning potential of its players.
