Nine Premier League players currently earn £300,000 a week or more, compared to the 2011/12 season where that tally was just one player.
The figures, according to Spotrac, show the vast change in wage expenditure in the Premier League as the TV rights deals have boomed and ownership investment has risen.
The best players in the league aren’t necessarily on the most money, as we have a look at the highest earners in the Premier League since 2011:
2011/12
Fernando Torres (Chelsea) – £340,362
That famous goal at Barcelona on their path to Champions League glory would make him worth every penny.
2013/14
Fernando Torres (Chelsea) – £340,362
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) – £300,000
One of David Moyes’ few achievements whilst manager of Manchester United, tying down Wayne Rooney to what would be his final deal at United. With rumours of the superstar wanting out as the new era began at Old Trafford, a new bumper deal followed.
2014/15
Embed from Getty ImagesFernando Torres (Chelsea) – £340,362
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) – £300,000
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) – £220,000
Yaya Toure (Manchester City) – £220,000
The rewards for being catalysts in Manchester City’s two Premier League title wins, Aguero and Toure broke the £200,000 a week mark.
2015/16
Fernando Torres (Chelsea) – £340,362
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) – £300,000
Eden Hazard (Chelsea) – £225,000
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) – £220,000
Yaya Toure (Manchester City) – £220,000
David De Gea (Manchester United) – £200,000
A new generation breaking into the top benchmark for wages in the Premier League. This was the beginning of a shift in increase in spending to tie down their star names with big money.
2018/19
Embed from Getty ImagesMesut Ozil (Arsenal) £350,000
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) £350,000
Alexis Sanchez (Manchester United) £350,000
N’Golo Kante (Chelsea) £290,000
Paul Pogba (Manchester United) £290,000
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) £250,000
A new top wage was set as Arsenal clung onto star man Ozil, whilst De Bruyne’s heroics for City were rewarded. Ozil’s form quickly fell whilst De Bruyne has established himself as one of the best the Premier League’s ever seen, as for Alexis at United…
2019/20
David De Gea (Manchester United) £375,000
Manchester City may have been the clear big spenders, but United have spent considerably in the post-Ferguson era just maybe not in the right ways?
2020/21
Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) £600,000 – part paid by Real Madrid
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) £400,000
2021/22
Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) £515,000
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) £400,000
United and City leading the way again by making sure their talisman’s topped the league’s highest earners list.
2022/23
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) £400,000
Erling Haaland (Manchester City) £375,000
David De Gea (Manchester United) £350,000
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) £350,000
Casemiro (Manchester United) £350,000
Raphael Varane (Manchester United) £340,000
Raheem Sterling (Chelsea) £325,000
Jack Grealish (Manchester City) £300,000
10 years after Torres was the sole Premier League player to earn this astronomical amount, eight players were on over £300,000 a week. The new normal to attract or keep big players, offer big money.
2023/24
Embed from Getty ImagesKevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) £400,000
Erling Haaland (Manchester City) £375,000
David De Gea (Manchester United) £350,000
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) £350,000
Casemiro (Manchester United) £350,000
Raphael Varane (Manchester United) £340,000
Raheem Sterling (Chelsea) £325,000
Jack Grealish (Manchester City) £300,000
Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) £300,000
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) £300,000
