The Premier League’s wage bill continues to scale new heights in the 2025/26 season, driven by lucrative broadcasting agreements and intensifying competition among clubs for elite talent. The top 10 earners in the division collectively represent a significant portion of global football’s highest salaries, with figures that underline the league’s financial supremacy.
Erling Haaland of Manchester City sits at the summit of the Premier League’s pay structure, earning a basic weekly salary of approximately £525,000. The Norwegian striker signed a long-term contract extension in January 2025, committing him to the club until 2034. His standing as the division’s top earner is reinforced by his output on the pitch — as of 13 April 2026, Haaland had scored 22 Premier League goals in 30 appearances during the current campaign, placing him at the top of the Golden Boot standings.
Mohamed Salah occupies second place on the wage table at £400,000 per week. The Liverpool forward has maintained an exceptional level of performance well into his 30s, recording 27 Premier League goals and accumulating 33 goals and 17 assists across 29 appearances in all competitions as of mid-April 2026. His compatriot and defensive colleague Virgil van Dijk is joint-third alongside Manchester United midfielder Casemiro, both earning £350,000 per week. Van Dijk signed a two-year contract extension in April 2025, keeping him at Anfield until June 2027 and placing him among the highest-paid defenders in European football.
Casemiro represents Manchester United’s largest wage commitment at £350,000 weekly, though the Brazilian has featured 15 times this season, contributing one goal and one assist. The debate surrounding the value of his contract has persisted throughout his time at Old Trafford.
Manchester City feature prominently across the list. Bernardo Silva earns £300,000 per week, having recorded two goals and four assists in 31 league appearances this season. Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush, who joined City from Eintracht Frankfurt, earns £295,000 weekly on a deal running until 2028 and has contributed one goal and three assists in 17 Premier League outings.
Bruno Fernandes, whose contract was extended in August 2024 through to June 2027, earns a reported £300,000 per week at Manchester United, making him one of the club’s joint-highest earners alongside Casemiro. The Portuguese captain has delivered eight goals and 17 assists in the current league season.
Arsenal account for two entries in the lower half of the top ten. Kai Havertz earns an estimated £280,000 gross per week — approximately £14.56 million annually — on a contract running until 2028. Gabriel Jesus, who joined Arsenal from Manchester City in 2022 and is contracted until 2027, earns approximately £265,000 per week.
Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak also appears on the list at £280,000 per week. According to reports, Isak is registered as a Liverpool player in this data, though his contract is listed as running until 30 June 2031. His consistent performances have made him one of the most valuable centre-forwards in the division.
Several broader trends emerge from the 2025/26 salary landscape. Manchester City place three players — Haaland, Silva, and Marmoush — in the top ten, reflecting the club’s sustained investment in squad depth. The presence of Salah, Van Dijk, and Casemiro also illustrates that experienced players in their late career phases continue to command wages at the top of the market.
The escalating wage structure has renewed scrutiny around Financial Fair Play regulations and the long-term sustainability of Premier League spending. At the same time, elite players at this level generate substantial commercial revenue through sponsorships, global merchandise sales, and broadcasting value, which clubs cite when justifying such expenditure.
