The Premier League remains the richest league in world football, with extraordinary wealth flowing from the boardroom onto the pitch. England’s elite division continues to outspend its European rivals, attracting top managers and players, but these ambitions come with huge wage bills.
Transfer spending regularly exceeds £1 billion every summer, and player salaries have followed the same upward trajectory. With wages rising every season, the question of who earns the most has never been more intriguing.
Below, Telegrafi brings you the five highest-paid players in the Premier League for the 2025/26 campaign, one of whom has yet to play a single match.
5. Raheem Sterling (Chelsea) – Weekly wage: £325,000
Raheem Sterling has rarely been short of lucrative contracts, from his trophy-laden years at Manchester City to his big-money move to Chelsea. Todd Boehly’s Blues were quick to offer elite wages, making Sterling one of the club’s highest earners immediately after his arrival.
However, his role at Stamford Bridge diminished following the appointment of Enzo Maresca, leading to a loan spell at Arsenal, where Chelsea continued to cover the majority of his wages. Now back in London, Sterling continues to earn £325,000 per week despite not making a single appearance in the 2025/26 season.
4. Casemiro (Manchester United) – Weekly wage: £350,000
Casemiro arrived at Manchester United in 2022 as a serial winner, fresh from multiple Champions League triumphs with Real Madrid. He initially justified his £350,000-a-week salary by adding strength and leadership to United’s midfield and helping to end the club’s trophy drought.
Since then, consistency has become an issue, with fluctuating performances and growing questions about his long-term future. With his contract expiring in 2026 and his wages among the highest at Old Trafford, an extension looks increasingly unlikely..
3. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) – Weekly wage: £350,000
Virgil van Dijk’s presence among the league’s highest-paid players underlines just how highly Liverpool value their defensive leader. Centre-backs rarely earn wages comparable to attacking stars, making Van Dijk’s £350,000 weekly salary a reflection of his elite status.
Despite speculation about a possible departure in 2025, the Dutchman committed to a new deal running until the summer of 2027. At 34 years old, he remains one of the most influential defenders in the Premier League.
2. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – Weekly wage: £400,000
Mohamed Salah has been at the heart of Liverpool’s success for nearly a decade, delivering goals, trophies, and countless decisive moments. His two-year contract extension signed in April 2025 secured him a £400,000 weekly wage, rewarding a sensational title-winning 2024/25 season.
While his form has dipped in the current campaign and tensions with Arne Slot have surfaced, Salah remains one of the league’s most feared attackers. Few players in England combine performance and longevity like the Egyptian star.
Erling Haaland (Manchester City) – Weekly wage: £525,000
Erling Haaland sits comfortably at the top of the Premier League wage hierarchy after signing a long-term deal with Manchester City. Since arriving in England, he has rewritten goal-scoring records, including breaking the record for most goals scored in a single Premier League season in 2022/23.
His salary rose from £375,000 per week to a staggering £525,000 following his new contract, reflecting his importance to Pep Guardiola’s system. Despite City’s trophyless campaign last season, Haaland’s return to top form in 2025/26 confirms his status as the league’s most valuable and highest-paid striker.
