Naturally, the more money that comes in, the more money players can demand from their employers, with an ever-growing cluster of stars earning more than a million pounds every single month.
Over 500 players will represent the 20 top-flight teams this season, with just over 70 of them reported to boast contracts worth over £100,000 per week. The following top 10 superstars certainly have the skills to pay the bills!
RadioTimes.com examines the top 10 highest-paid players in the Premier League – the world’s most lucrative division. We’ve based our figures on reports from Forbes, reputable news outlets and a variety of official sources to get us as close to the mark as possible.
All figures mentioned are before tax and do not include the array of bonuses and extra fees stashed away in the fine print of every contract. Players’ various sponsorship deals are also not included but, in some cases, add extra zeroes to the end of their pay cheques.
Once you’ve checked out the highest-paid players in the top flight, check out the Premier League TV schedule for all the latest details on when each team is live on the box.
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Highest-paid footballers in the Premier League 2021/22
10. Thomas Partey (Arsenal) – £250,000 p/w
The deep-lying central midfielder signed from Atletico Madrid in 2020 in a three-year deal for a fee of around £45m.
Unfortunately for the Gunners, who believed their newest star would help bolster their weary defence, Partey suffered two injuries within a month of domestic league appearances.
He is yet to score for his new employers, though he can be seen on the Colney training ground practising his outside-of-the-box screamers via social media. Fans will hope one hits the target soon.
9. Paul Pogba (Man Utd) – £290,000 p/w
Amid transfer speculation, Paul Pogba stays put in the United squad with just months left on his current contract.
Last season was riddled with uncertainty as super-agent Mino Raiola touted him for a move away from Old Trafford during the campaign. Roy Keane and Gary Neville voiced their frustration at the drama during key points in the season, where they felt Pogba ought to have concentrated on his performances in the league and not taking his eyes away from the prize.
Now 28, Pogba is at a crossroads in his career. He boasts obvious talent but has failed to make the most of his potential and should be a leader of the team right now, not a failed project.
8. N’Golo Kante (Chelsea) – £290,000 p/w
If the beautiful game had a poster boy for sheer work rate, the Frenchman would be a shoe-in.
Many tipped the defensive midfield terrier as a potential Ballon d’Or winner for his unrelenting stamina in an impressive calendar year with Chelsea.
Kante’s humility is fast-becoming the stuff of legend after driving a Mini Cooper to and from training and Stamford Bridge. Teammate Antonio Rudiger told an interviewer that “if you don’t like Kante, then you’ve got problems”.
7. Raheem Sterling (Man City) – £300,000 p/w
A strong Euro 2020 campaign saw the 26-year-old score four on the way to the final. He also racked up 10 goals and seven assists in the league last term. While they won’t go down as his highest figures, the summer of 2021 has certainly rebuilt Sterling’s aura.
Soon to step into his prime years, his current deal lasts for less than two more years at the Etihad. Pep has purported to have “restarted” talks of a renewal in the not-too-distant future.
Sterling’s career has been a rollercoaster one, and his next move will be crucial. Will he stay put and settle for rotation at City or move onto other things?
6. Jack Grealish (Man City) – £300,000 p/w
Nationwide heartthrob Grealish joined title holders Man City last summer, signing a six-year deal for his services, in a move that will add plenty of zeroes to his bank balance.
A lifelong Villa fan and club player since the age of six, the 25-year-old couldn’t refuse the move to the reigning Premier League champions and a massive pay day to boot.
Grealish has enjoyed plenty of hype in the last couple of years, particularly following his exploits with England at Euro 2020, but now he has a British transfer record price tag on his CV, can he justify his enormous cost and weekly wages?
5. Raphael Varane (Man Utd) – £340,000 p/w
We said half of this list is made up from Manchester United players, and we weren’t lying. Prepare for a rich vein of rich United stars now, starting with Raphael Varane.
The centre-back is an experienced and relentless winner. He has lifted the Champions League trophy four times with Real Madrid and will be desperate to make his experience count in Manchester.
He will have been earning a decent packet in the Spanish capital and moving to United has probably guaranteed him the biggest salary of his career in his last major move.
4. Jadon Sancho (Man Utd) – £350,000 p/w
Up next, United’s most expensive signing – in terms of transfer fee – since Pogba. Jadon Sancho cost the Red Devils just shy of £80 million last summer.
The England international winger had tore up the Bundesliga with Dortmund but experienced a muted start to life back on home soil.
Ralf Rangnick’s arrival at the club may not have had the desired effect in terms of club unity or a sustained upturn in form, but Sancho has been a shining light in recent months and looks far more worthy of his payslip.
3. David De Gea (Man Utd) – £375,000 p/w
De Gea kept nine clean sheets in 26 appearances last season and takes second spot with his contract pledging his future between the sticks at United until 2023.
He has made noises about remaining in Manchester for the rest of his career, but it remains to be seen whether he can negotiate a similarly colossal contract.
Now aged 30, De Gea is proving to have the staying power of previous long-serving United stoppers such as Peter Schmeichel and Edwin van der Sar.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) – £385,000 p/w
Ronaldo’s previous earnings would’ve put him comfortably top of this list, but he opted for a slight pay cut in order to rejoin Manchester United. We doubt dropping down to a meagre £385,000 per week wage will hurt too much!
United have made him their most expensive player in terms of salary, just ahead of previous incumbent De Gea and he has achieved parity – or close to it – with the highest-earner in the top flight.
So far, it’s been a mixed return for the megastar forward. Ronaldo has scored a handful upon his return to Manchester and but trophies appear a long way off while rumours of teammates’ discontent swirl around the club.
1. Kevin De Bruyne (Man City) – £385,000 p/w
Topping this lavish list for the year is a key piece in Pep Guardiola’s tactical jigsaw. De Bruyne recorded six goals and 12 assists in just 26 Premier League appearances last term.
He was a key cog in reclaiming the Premier League title from Liverpool last campaign. The fiery Belgian international is now back on the hunt for silverware after his side fell short of the much-discussed quadruple in 2021/22, which would have consisted of the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup trophies.
His contract extension takes him to 2025 and if things go to plan for Pep Guardiola and his men, they could see their beloved midfielder surpass 200 league appearances for the club. If he sees his illustrious career out at the Etihad, there’s a strong possibility he could eclipse and surpass the number held by fellow countryman and club legend Vincent Kompany and nail down his place as one of the league’s finest ever players – not only its highest-paid jewel.
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