Manchester United account for five of the 10 highest Premier League earners, with Manchester City contributing a further three players. Chelsea and Liverpool have one apiece.
According to Capology, there are 28 Premier League players earning £200,000 or more per week in the 2022-23 season.
High-spending ownership groups and a huge television deal have seen Premier League wages soar over the last few years, with even mid-table clubs able to outbid top sides from other major European leagues.
Here are the biggest weekly wages in the Premier League this season.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo – £515,000
Cristiano Ronaldo’s dramatic return to Manchester United has not worked out as hoped.
If anything, Ronaldo has been a detriment to the team, and despite wanting to leave the club in the summer, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was unable to secure a transfer, partly because of his bloated wages.
Erik ten Hag’s tenure has been overshadowed by Ronaldo early on. While the Portuguese star continues to provide goals, his limitations are a problem for Ten Hag.
Ronaldo’s contract expires at the end of this season, and it will be fascinating to see what the market is like for him.
2. Kevin De Bruyne – £400,000
A four-time Premier League winner and included in the Premier League Team of the Season on four occasions, Kevin De Bruyne finished third in 2022 Ballon d’Or voting to add yet another accolade to his decorated CV.
While the outlay in 2015 was a contentious topic, De Bruyne proved to be an absolute bargain as he developed into the best midfielder on the planet.
3. Erling Haaland – £375,000
Whichever team won the race for Erling Haaland knew they were getting a star. The Norwegian has broken records rapidly in his first weeks with Manchester City, living up to the hype and making Pep Guardiola’s side even more fearsome.
There have been rumours that Haaland’s weekly wage can be over double this figure with bonuses. His contract also reportedly has a release clause which activates in a couple of years.
3. David de Gea – £375,000
A dysfunctional fax machine kept David de Gea at Manchester United when he was widely considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
The Spaniard has been a loyal servant to the Red Devils, recently making his 500th appearance for the club.
De Gea has had some difficulties over the last few years, though, with some high-profile errors and speculation about his status as the club’s number one.
He has bounced back over the last year or two, but he’s a long way from the world’s best at his position.
5. Jadon Sancho – £350,000
Jadon Sancho blossomed at Borussia Dortmund, posting stellar goal involvement numbers and excelling in both the Bundesliga and European competition. It was a coup for Manchester United to land Sancho ahead of other suitors in 2021, but the move has not worked out thus far.
Still only 22, Sancho has time on his side, yet there is pressure on him to prove he can be a key player at Old Trafford.
5. Mohamed Salah – £350,000
After months of rumours about Mohamed Salah’s future, Liverpool committed £350,000 per week to the Egyptian earlier this year. The deal shattered their wage structure, with no other player at the club on more than £220,000.
Salah, a two-time Footballer of the Year and three-time Golden Boot winner, had been underpaid by Premier League standards prior to this contract extension. With the former Chelsea forward already 30 years old and this deal not expiring until 2025, Liverpool have taken a risk with a salary this size.
7. Raphael Varane – £340,000
Raphael Varane is the Premier League’s highest-paid defender. The World Cup winner and four-time champion of Europe was always going to command a massive salary to come to the Premier League, and Manchester United provided just that in 2021.
The Frenchman made just 20 Premier League starts in his first season. Injuries have again troubled him in 2022-23.
8. Raheem Sterling – £325,000
Raheem Sterling signing for Chelsea was a slightly surprising transfer considering the Blues’ abundance of attacking options. Chelsea handed Sterling a slight wage increase from £300,000 to £325,000 this summer, and he seamlessly slotted into their squad.
It’s a bit too early to judge if Sterling will be a success in west London, but his versatility has been useful to Graham Potter already.
9. Casemiro – £300,000
Following the same path as Varane from the Bernabeu to Old Trafford, Casemiro slotted in as the joint-ninth highest Premier League earner with £40,000 less per week than his former Los Blancos teammate.
Erik ten Hag has been reluctant to start the Brazilian in the Premier League, but it is only a matter of time until Casemiro is one of the first names on the team sheet.
9. Jack Grealish – £300,000
Manchester City splashed £100 million on Jack Grealish last summer. Just over a year on, the transfer has divided opinion. From Grealish’s perspective, it can be viewed as a success, with the England international already a Premier League winner and regular starter.
Three goals and three assists in the Premier League in 2021-22 was an underwhelming return, but Grealish’s ball progression numbers are absolutely exceptional, and he has shown clear signs of progress as he adapts to the demands of Guardiola’s system.
