13 Premier League Clubs with the Highest Wage Bills 2025/26
- Think Football Ideas
- Sep 10
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 22
Premier League Wage Rankings 2025/26: Top 13 Biggest Spenders
As we all know, the Premier League is a juggernaut of wealth, visibility, and talent, with transfer windows in recent years showing why the competition remains unmatched in financial power.
But there’s another way we can also measure that dominance, and that is by wage bills. Salaries often tell us as much about ambition, risk, and planning as signings themselves.
Behind every big name arriving through the door lies the weekly contract that shapes how clubs balance footballing dreams with financial reality.
Here Are The Top 13 Premier League Wage Bills (2025/26)
13. Crystal Palace – £65.4m
Crystal Palace sit at the base of this ranking, reflecting the difficulty of retaining star names in the modern market. The departures of Michael Olise to Bayern Munich and Eberechi Eze to Arsenal forced a rebalancing, with Daichi Kamada now leading the payroll on £5.2m.
Goalkeeper Dean Henderson, Eddie Nketiah, and Yeremy Pino all hover close behind, alongside Ismaila Sarr. For Palace, who won their first major trophy in May 2025, beating Man City 1-0 to seal the FA Cup, sustainability defines their approach.
The South London club remain competitive through resourcefulness, investing carefully rather than matching the vast figures seen higher up the table.
12. Fulham – £71.5m
Fulham’s structure remains disciplined even after losing talisman Aleksandar Mitrovic in 2023. Shot-stopper Bernd Leno emerges as their highest-paid asset on £6.8m, while Raul Jimenez, Joachim Andersen, Alex Iwobi, and Samuel Chukwueze make up a balanced group of earners.
The club’s wage bill reflects stability, with Marco Silva favouring continuity and measured additions. Instead of chasing inflated contracts, Fulham emphasise cohesion, trusting that a settled core allows them to remain steady in the Premier League without veering into dangerous financial commitments.
11. Everton – £71.7m
Everton’s payroll tells a story of ambition that has not always translated to consistent results. The loan acquisition of Jack Grealish from Man City, commanding £11.7m, lifted their wage ceiling, while Jordan Pickford, Jarrad Branthwaite, Idrissa Gueye, and James Tarkowski also command significant sums.
Departures of Amadou Onana and Andre Gomes lightened the load, but the overall figure remains high for a club often fighting at the wrong end of the table.
Albeit, David Moyes seems to be leading the club in the right direction. The financial outlay underscores both the risks and necessities of survival in today’s league.
10. West Ham United – £71.8m
West Ham’s finances benefited from the lucrative sale of England midfielder Declan Rice in 2023, paving the way for reinvestment across the squad.
Their wage bill highlights Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta as leading earners on £7.8m apiece, while Alphonse Areola, James Ward-Prowse, and Max Kilman also contribute to a strong mid-tier structure.
The East London side once appeared steady under David Moyes, but that sense of stability seems to have shifted. Questionable investments during Julen Lopetegui’s tenure, compounded by the recent sale of Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham, have raised doubts over the club’s long-term direction.
What was once a pragmatic model now feels uncertain, leaving many to wonder how Graham Potter can impose order. His task is to redefine strategy, steady the squad, and restore the balance between ambition and sustainability.
9. Nottingham Forest – £84.2m
Since promotion in 2022, Nottingham Forest have emerged as one of the league’s boldest spenders, reflecting their determination to consolidate at the top level.
Douglas Luiz, brought in on loan, headlines the wage sheet on £7.8m. Nikola Milenkovic, Chris Wood, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Dan Ndoye occupy the next tier of contracts.
The figures underline how quickly Forest adapted to Premier League economics, transforming into a side prepared to compete financially. Their aggressive stance is calculated, aiming to secure longevity rather than mere survival.
8. Newcastle United – £101.7m
Newcastle’s wage bill demonstrates the impact of Saudi-backed ownership since 2021, even though PSR hasn’t allowed them to fully unleash their financial muscle in the way some might have expected.
Brazil internationals Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton, both on £7.8m, headline an increasingly cosmopolitan squad. Anthony Gordon, Nick Woltemade, and Sandro Tonali follow closely, reflecting the balance between emerging talents and proven internationals.
The club’s resources are now firmly among the league’s most formidable, yet they have pursued a more measured path than anticipated.
Instead of reckless spending, Newcastle’s wage structure showcases a strategy rooted in progression, gradually lifting their profile both domestically and abroad.
7. Aston Villa – £106.6m
Aston Villa’s wage structure surged during their Champions League adventure last season, marking a high point in their modern revival.
However, failure to repeat that qualification for the 2025/26 campaign forced a recalibration, with Europa League football and PSR demanding a more measured financial approach.
The club resisted further inflation of salaries, though the payroll remains substantial, led by Boubacar Kamara on £8.8m alongside Emiliano Martinez, Jadon Sancho, Donyell Malen, and Amadou Onana.
Villa’s balance between ambition and prudence reflects their challenge of sustaining European competition without overreaching.
6. Tottenham Hotspur – £127.1m
Tottenham Hotspur’s wage bill is the lowest among the traditional “big six,” yet it still demonstrates significant investment.
Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero stand atop at £10.4m each, supported by James Maddison, Joao Palhinha, and Randal Kolo Muani. Spurs have prioritised balance, rewarding central figures while keeping overall expenditure contained relative to their rivals.
The strategy speaks to a desire for sustainability while maintaining competitiveness. Tottenham’s financial discipline has not hindered ambition but rather reflects an organisational model that values prudence alongside progress.
With Daniel Levy's exit, this may change, but it remains to be seen what direction the North London side will take.
5. Manchester United – £139m
Manchester United’s fall to fifth in this ranking reflects both squad restructuring and departures of high-profile contracts.
Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes remain on £15.6m each, with Mason Mount, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire in supporting roles.
Despite the reduced figure, the wage bill is still immense, mirroring the club’s stature. United remain financially powerful but are also navigating the challenge of recalibrating spending in line with new management philosophies. Their payroll reflects a transitional era, balancing legacy players with recent acquisitions.
4. Chelsea – £149.9m
Chelsea’s wage bill continues to dominate conversation, given the staggering sums spent under Todd Boehly. Raheem Sterling tops the list at £16.9m, ahead of Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Enzo Fernandez, and Marc Cucurella.
The overall figure, while still massive, reflects a degree of recalibration after exits such as Mount and Havertz.
Chelsea remain one of the most expensive squads to assemble and maintain, yet their payroll underscores a broader strategy of building depth across positions rather than concentrating expenditure on a handful of marquee stars.
3. Liverpool – £155.3m
Liverpool’s wages soared with Mohamed Salah’s renewal in 2025, taking his package to £20.8m and placing him among the Premier League’s top earners.
Captain Virgil van Dijk, Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, and Florian Wirtz round out a roster reflective of ambition and evolution. They are also the highest-paid Liverpool players.
The Reds’ spending represents a shift toward securing prime years of established talent alongside emerging options. Their payroll indicates not only loyalty to long-serving figures but also a clear intent to remain central in the league’s title race and European pursuits.
2. Arsenal – £168.8m
Arsenal’s wage bill highlights their determination to return to the pinnacle of English football. Kai Havertz leads the pack on £13.2m, followed closely by Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus, and Viktor Gyokeres, who is on £10,400,000 per year.
These figures show how Arsenal have positioned themselves as both attractive to stars and committed to retaining their core.
The investment reflects belief in Mikel Arteta’s vision, aligning player contracts with sustained challenges for silverware. Arsenal’s payroll illustrates both the costs and demands of staying competitive against the league’s most formidable squads.
1. Manchester City – £188.4m
Manchester City remain far ahead of the competition, with their wage bill reaching £188.4m for the season. Erling Haaland’s remarkable £26m leads the table, complemented by Bernardo Silva, Omar Marmoush, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and John Stones.
The figures encapsulate the resources required to sustain dominance across multiple competitions. Even with Kevin De Bruyne’s contract no longer weighing on the books, City continue to outspend rivals.
Their payroll demonstrates both financial strength and the relentless standards set under Pep Guardiola, ensuring the squad remains unparalleled in depth and quality.