De Bruyne, Haaland, De Gea, Salah Lead Premier League’s Highest-Paid 11

• Kevin De Bruyne is the highest-paid footballer in the Premier League after the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo in December
• He is joined in the starting 11 of the highest-paid in the league by teammate Erling Haaland
• David De Gea receives the highest salary by a goalkeeper in the world, a figure which could reduce when he signs a new contract

The Premier League is the most financially buoyant in the world, with enough financial strength for bottom-of-the-table clubs to compete with top clubs in other leagues.

Italian Serie A champions-elect Napoli have a lower wage bill than relegation-threatened Leicester City in England. At the same time, current champions AC Milan only beat the wage of West Ham by a little over £2m.

According to Bloomberg, newly promoted Nottingham Forest outspent top clubs in other top five European leagues, including Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Juventus, amongst others last summer.

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Football

Sports Brief looks at the highest-paid players in each position in the Premier League this season, as first analysed by Planet Football.

GK - David De Gea

The Manchester United goalkeeper is the world's highest-paid goalkeeper and in the league, with a mammoth salary of £375,000 per week. His contract runs out in the summer, and he would take a pay cut to renew.

CBs - Kalidou Koulibaly, Raphael Varane

Kalidou Koulibaly joined Chelsea from Napoli in the summer and was handed a four-year contract and a salary of £295,000 per week. In contrast, Varane, who joined Manchester United in 2021, receives £340,000 weekly.

RB, LB - Reece James, Ben Chilwell

Chelsea duo of Reece James and Ben Chilwell are the highest-paid full-backs. The academy star receives £250,000 per week while his teammate takes home £200,000 per week, having recently signed a new contract weeks ago.

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DM, CM - Casemiro, N'golo Kante

Casemiro joined Manchester United in the summer for £70m and was handed a salary of £300,000. Kante has been on £290,000 per week for some time.

Attack - Salah, De Bruyne, Sancho

Forming an attacking trio behind the striker is Mohamed Salah - £350,000 per week, Kevin De Bruyne - £400,000 per week and Manchester United's £73m man Jadon Sancho £340,000 per week.

ST - Erling Haaland

Haaland joined Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund for £51m last summer. He was handed a five-year contract with a mouthwatering salary of £375,000 per week, making him the highest-paid striker in the league.

World highest-paid XI

Only two of these Premier League stars make the world's highest-paid XI in their positions, as earlier analysed by Sports Brief - David De Gea and Reece James.

The other positions are occupied mostly by Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain stars, with Cristiano Ronaldo, the lead man in attack with a yearly salary of £173m at Al-Nassr.