Money in English football is a bit of a joke. Honestly, when you hear about the average soccer player salary premier league stars are pulling in, it feels like Monopoly money. We’re talking about figures that would make a CEO sweat. But there's a catch. Most people look at the top and assume everyone is buying a private island.
It's not quite that simple.
As we sit here in 2026, the financial gap between a benchwarmer at a promoted side and the superstars at the Etihad is wider than it's ever been. You've got guys like Erling Haaland reportedly clearing over £500,000 every single week. Then you have the "strugglers"—if you can call them that—who are "only" making £25,000 a week.
Still a lot of money? Absolutely. But in the context of the Premier League, that’s a different world.
The Real Numbers: Breaking Down the Average Soccer Player Salary Premier League
Let's get into the weeds.
According to recent 2025/26 season reports, the median guaranteed compensation for a Premier League player has hit roughly $3.5 million per year (about £2.7 million). If you prefer weekly math, the average sits somewhere around £67,000 to £75,000 per week.
But averages are liars.
If you put one billionaire in a room with nine homeless people, the "average" person in that room is a multi-millionaire. The same thing happens in football. The "Big Six" (or Big Seven, depending on how Newcastle's season is going) drag that average up so high it barely reflects reality for the rest of the league.
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The Club-by-Club Disparity
It’s kinda wild to look at the wage bills side-by-side. Manchester City is currently burning through an estimated £222 million to £230 million a year just on player salaries. On the flip side, clubs like Burnley or Sunderland—who clawed their way back into the top flight—are operating on wage bills closer to £50 million to £55 million.
Basically, Man City’s bench probably earns more than Sunderland’s entire starting eleven.
Here is a look at how the total wage bills for the 2025/26 season actually shake out for some key teams:
- Manchester City: ~£222.3M
- Arsenal: ~£189.3M
- Liverpool: ~£174.2M
- Manchester United: ~£159.3M
- Chelsea: ~£164.7M
- Aston Villa: ~£130.3M
- Sunderland: ~£68.0M
- Burnley: ~£55.9M
- Brentford: ~£54.3M
Brentford is actually a fascinating case study. They consistently have one of the lowest wage bills in the league, yet they often sit comfortably in mid-table. It proves that while a massive average soccer player salary premier league spend usually correlates with success, smart recruitment can still punch above its weight.
Who Are the Top Earners in 2026?
You probably already know the names. Erling Haaland is the undisputed king of the hill. After his latest contract extension, he’s reportedly taking home £525,000 a week.
Then you have the legends. Mohamed Salah is still raking it in at £400,000 a week after signing a new two-year deal with Liverpool in early 2025. Virgil van Dijk isn't far behind at £350,000.
Interestingly, some "older" names are still holding onto massive contracts that clubs might be regretting. Casemiro at Manchester United is still on £350,000 a week, even as his minutes on the pitch have started to dwindle. Raheem Sterling, currently at Arsenal on loan from Chelsea, remains one of the highest-paid players in the country at £325,000 a week.
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The Breakout Stars
One of the most surprising entries in the top earners list this year is Omar Marmoush. After joining Manchester City in the January 2025 window, he’s already moved into the elite bracket with a reported wage of £295,000 a week. It’s a testament to how quickly the "average" can shift when a club decides you're the next big thing.
Why Do Salaries Keep Going Up?
You’d think the bubble would have burst by now.
It hasn't.
Broadcasting fees are the primary engine. The domestic media deal for 2025-2029 is worth roughly $2.2 billion per year. When that kind of cash drops into club bank accounts, the players (and their agents) are the first ones at the door.
However, there is a looming shadow. The UK government recently announced that image rights payments will be taxed as regular income (45%) starting in April 2027, rather than at the lower corporate tax rate.
Agents are already freaking out.
Expect players to demand even higher gross salaries to offset these tax changes. If a player wants to "take home" £100k a week, the club is going to have to pay significantly more to make the math work.
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The "Lower" End of the Scale
We often ignore the guys making "only" £15,000 or £20,000 a week. Usually, these are young academy graduates or players brought in from the Championship.
For a club like Ipswich or Burnley, keeping the wage structure sane is the only way to survive. If you give one new signing £80,000 a week, every other player in the dressing room is going to be knocking on the manager's door the next morning.
It's a delicate balancing act. Overpay, and you risk a financial meltdown if you get relegated. Underpay, and you don't have the quality to stay up.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're trying to make sense of these numbers or perhaps you're just a massive Football Manager nerd, keep these three things in mind:
- Look at the Wage-to-Revenue Ratio: A sustainable club usually keeps their total wage bill under 60-65% of their total turnover. When a club like Everton or Chelsea starts pushing 75% or 80%, that’s when the points deductions and PSR (Profit and Sustainability Rules) headaches begin.
- Inflation vs. Wages: Real-term growth in the average soccer player salary premier league actually lagged behind UK inflation recently. While £3.5 million sounds like more than £3.2 million from four years ago, in terms of buying power, some players are technically "poorer" than their predecessors—relatively speaking, of course.
- The "Sunderland" Model: Watch teams that overperform their wage bill. Currently, Sunderland and Crystal Palace are the stars of 2026, sitting much higher in the table than their spending suggests they should.
The era of just "throwing money at the problem" is slowly being replaced by "throwing money at the problem carefully." The wages aren't going down, but the scrutiny on how they are paid—and what the taxman gets—is reaching an all-time high.
To stay ahead of these trends, keep a close eye on the Companies House filings for major clubs, which usually drop in the spring. These documents provide the only "official" look at the total wage costs, moving beyond the rumors and agent leaks that dominate the headlines. Understanding the difference between a player's "base pay" and their "performance bonuses" is the key to seeing who is actually winning the financial game.
Keep an eye on the upcoming tax changes in 2027; they will likely trigger the next massive jump in "average" salaries as clubs scramble to keep their stars happy.