Haaland leads Premier League rich list as Man City and Arsenal dominate 2025/26 top earners

Following a series of record-breaking contract extensions and high-profile transfers over the last twelve months, the wage bill for the Premier League’s elite has never looked more formidable.

A podcast appearance by Manchester United and England legends Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes has put the spotlight back on one of football's most talked-about subjects; how much the Premier League's biggest stars actually earn.

The segment, which saw Rooney and fellow guests attempt to guess the league's highest-paid players, revealed a top ten that spans title contenders, departing legends, and at least one eyebrow-raising inclusion.

The financial landscape of English football has reached a new peak for the 2025/26 season. Here is the full breakdown.

Nobody comes close. Haaland sits at the top of the Premier League's wage structure by a considerable distance, having signed a record-breaking contract in January 2025 that ties him to Manchester City until 2034. 

At £525,000 a week, he is not just the highest earner in England, he is one of the highest-paid footballers on the planet.

The Egyptian King commands £400,000 a week, but this is expected to be his final season at Anfield. 

Salah is expected to leave Liverpool on a free transfer in the summer of 2026, which makes every remaining game a potential farewell. 

Few players have ever been worth every penny of a wage quite like him.

The most debated entry on the list. Casemiro earns £350,000 a week at Old Trafford and is set to leave the club at the end of this season. 

For a player whose form has been a source of significant frustration in recent years, his wage remains a talking point and a reminder of the financial decisions that have contributed to United's current rebuild.

Van Dijk matches Casemiro's wage but with considerably less controversy attached. 

The Liverpool captain extended his contract in April 2025 with a significant pay rise, a reflection of his continued importance to the club. 

At his best, he remains one of the finest centre-backs in world football.

Saka's new long-term deal, signed in early 2026, makes him Arsenal's joint-highest earner on £300,000 a week. 

Few would argue with the valuation, the England winger has been one of the most consistent performers in the league for three consecutive seasons and remains central to everything Mikel Arteta builds.

The United captain matches Saka's wage, also on £300,000 a week following his 2024 contract extension. 

Fernandes remains United's most creative force and one of the most influential midfielders in the country and in Europe.

The most surprising name on the list for many. Marmoush arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt in January 2025 for approximately £67 million and was handed a wage of £295,000 a week, more than most established Premier League stars. 

The Egyptian forward has shown flashes of his brilliance but carries significant expectation attached to that price tag.

Isak joined Liverpool in the summer of 2025 in a deal worth a British record £125 million and his wages reflect that investment. 

On £280,000 a week, he has been brought in as the long-term successor to Darwin Nunez and Roberto Firmino in Liverpool's attack.

While injuries have blighted him at Anfield, this brief carries enormous pressure and enormous opportunity in equal measure.

Havertz has been earning £280,000 a week since his move from Chelsea to Arsenal in 2023. 

The German has taken time to find his best form in north London but has emerged as one of Arteta's more trusted options across multiple positions.

Arsenal's third representative in the top ten, Jesus has been on £265,000 a week since signing his long-term contract in 2022. 

The Brazilian striker's injury record has tested the club's patience at times, but his quality and experience remain valuable assets in a squad chasing the title.

• A few things stand out from this list.

Manchester City and Arsenal each have three players in the top ten, with Liverpool contributing two. 

Manchester United's presence, Casemiro and Fernandes combining for £650,000 a week, is a stark illustration of the financial legacy the club's current leadership is still managing.

Salah's imminent departure also means Liverpool's wage structure will look very different by the time next season begins. 

Isak, at £280,000 a week, becomes the natural heir, but stepping into those shoes involves more than money.