How Much Do Footballers Make? A Deep Dive into Football Salaries

How much do footballers get paid? It's a question that sparks debate, fascination, and even envy across the globe. From the multimillion-pound contracts of Premier League superstars to the modest earnings of players in lower leagues, footballer salaries vary wildly depending on location, league, and individual talent.

In this article, we’ll explore how much footballers get paid at different levels of the game, the factors that influence their earnings, and how salaries have evolved over time. Whether you're a curious fan or aspiring player, this guide will give you a clear understanding of the money behind the beautiful game.

Top-Tier Football: The Global Superstars

When asking how much do footballers get paid, most people think of the elite — players like Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, or Cristiano Ronaldo. These players earn astronomical sums that go far beyond their base salary. For instance, Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly earns over £150 million per year with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, with a large chunk of that coming from commercial deals, endorsements, and performance-related bonuses.

Before his move to Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappé was reportedly offered more than £200 million per season to stay at PSG, a figure that includes both salary and substantial loyalty bonuses. Lionel Messi, during his time at Barcelona, earned close to £1 million per week, excluding sponsorship income.

In Europe’s top leagues such as the English Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and Bundesliga, it is not uncommon for the highest earners to take home between £100,000 and £500,000 per week. Once you add in earnings from global endorsements, brand deals, and image rights, it becomes clear why the question "how much do footballers get paid" continues to fascinate fans and pundits alike.

📈💰 Real Madrid's wage bill.. pic.twitter.com/b6zex7soda

— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) July 20, 2025

Commercial Deals, Endorsements, and Performance Bonuses

One of the biggest financial boosts for footballers, especially those at the top level, comes from off-the-pitch earnings. Commercial deals are agreements players make with brands or sponsors who want to associate with their image, personality, or following. These deals can include everything from branded social media posts to global advertising campaigns. For the biggest names in football, these partnerships can be worth millions.

Endorsements fall under a similar umbrella. When a player endorses a product — be it boots, energy drinks, or clothing — they're typically paid handsomely to be the face of the brand. Deals with sportswear giants like Nike, Adidas, and Puma are especially lucrative, often including performance bonuses or royalty arrangements based on product sales.

Performance-related bonuses, on the other hand, are earned through achievements on the pitch. These can include goal bonuses, clean sheet incentives, appearance fees, or rewards for reaching team objectives like winning a league title or qualifying for the Champions League. While base salaries offer stability, these bonuses can significantly increase a player’s total earnings, particularly in successful teams.

🚨 Cristiano Ronaldo has a £$1 billion lifetime deal with Nike. pic.twitter.com/USjRwG8D8n

— CristianoXtra (@CristianoXtra_) July 30, 2025

How Much Do Footballers Get Paid in the Premier League?

The Premier League is often regarded as the most lucrative football league in the world. As of 2024, the average weekly wage for a Premier League player is estimated to be around £60,000, which equates to roughly £3 million per year. However, these figures vary significantly depending on a player’s role, experience, and club.

At the top end of the spectrum, players like Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah command weekly wages well in excess of £300,000. These salaries are supplemented by performance bonuses, appearance fees, and goal-related incentives. Mid-tier players, who are established regulars but not necessarily global stars, tend to earn between £60,000 and £120,000 per week. Younger or less experienced players, including squad players and those breaking into the first team, may earn closer to £10,000 to £30,000 per week.

Bonuses can play a major role in boosting a player's income, with incentives linked to team performance, individual stats, and qualification for European competitions.

Fair play to the WiFi at Goodison, managed to get this out just before kick off*

Average weekly wage in the Premier League since it started.

*Yes I have no friends but I do have a spreadsheet pic.twitter.com/5nwYzO6zyn

— Kieran Maguire (@KieranMaguire) August 17, 2024

How Much Do Footballers Get Paid in Lower Leagues?

While Premier League players enjoy immense wealth, the financial landscape changes dramatically as you move down the football pyramid. The question of how much do footballers get paid becomes much more nuanced outside the top tiers.

In the Championship, England’s second division, wages are generally lower but still substantial. The average weekly salary ranges from £10,000 to £20,000, with top players potentially earning up to £40,000 or even £50,000 per week at promotion-chasing clubs. Financial sustainability is a concern in the Championship, and many clubs implement strict wage structures to avoid breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.

In League One and League Two, average wages drop significantly. Players in these divisions typically earn between £1,000 and £4,000 per week. While these figures are still far above the national average, they reflect the more modest financial resources available to clubs at this level. Some younger or fringe players may earn even less, especially if they are on short-term or part-time contracts.

In the National League, which is England’s fifth tier, many clubs are semi-professional. Here, wages can range from as low as £300 per week to over £1,000 for standout performers. Players often supplement their income with second jobs or coaching roles.

The Championships highest wage bills this season:

Leeds Utd - £715,000 P/W
Burnley - £576,000 P/W
Sheffield Utd - £558,000 P/W
Middlesbrough - £472,000 P/W
Luton Town - £459,000 P/W
West Brom - £445,000 P/W
Cardiff City - £400,000 P/W
Norwich City - £376,000 P/W

[Stats via… pic.twitter.com/PhbDPwAyDD

— Top4tiers (@Topfourtiers) February 27, 2025

Women’s Football: The Wage Gap

The question of how much do footballers get paid is especially relevant when discussing the women's game, where salary disparities remain significant.

In the Women’s Super League (WSL), which is England’s top-tier women’s division, elite players such as Sam Kerr and Vivianne Miedema reportedly earn between £250,000 and £400,000 per year. This breaks down to roughly £5,000 to £8,000 per week. These salaries are significantly lower than their male counterparts, despite the increasing popularity of the women’s game.

On average, WSL players earn between £30,000 and £60,000 per year. Many players outside the top tier of women’s football still require second jobs to support themselves. However, thanks to increased media coverage and sponsorship deals, the financial landscape is improving slowly but surely.

🚨 A new survey of 736 elite women footballers across 12 countries revealed:

💵 73.9% earn < $19,000/year
🏢 27% have a secondary job
📚 36% are in formal education
🔻 52.8% earn < $4,999/year playing
⏱️ 20% have a full-time secondary job
❌ 23% took unpaid leave to play

— FIFPRO (@FIFPRO) June 17, 2024

Youth and Academy Footballers

Youth players at top clubs earn modest wages compared to senior professionals. Footballers under the age of 18 are typically on scholarship contracts and may receive an allowance of between £100 and £500 per week, depending on the club and individual promise.

As they progress to Under-23 or reserve squads, their salaries can increase significantly, often ranging from £1,000 to £5,000 per week. Still, these figures are heavily influenced by the player’s reputation, transfer interest, and potential to break into the senior team. Players who impress early can renegotiate deals or attract interest from other clubs willing to pay more.

International Football: Match Fees & Bonuses

Footballers also earn money through international appearances, although this is typically not as lucrative as club football. Players representing their national teams are paid per appearance, often referred to as a match fee. For example, England internationals reportedly receive between £2,000 and £5,000 per game. Many donate these fees to charitable causes.

In major tournaments like the World Cup or European Championships, additional bonuses are offered based on team performance. At the 2022 World Cup, England players stood to earn up to £500,000 each if they had gone on to lift the trophy. Although these earnings are one-off, they still factor into the overall picture of how much footballers get paid.

Endorsements, Image Rights, and Sponsorships

Top footballers often earn more from endorsements and sponsorships than from their base salary. Global icons like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi reportedly make tens of millions of pounds annually through brand deals with companies like Nike, Adidas, and Pepsi.

Image rights agreements also provide significant income, especially in leagues where wages are lower but marketing potential is high. For instance, players moving to Major League Soccer (MLS) or the Saudi Pro League often negotiate favourable image rights deals to maximise earnings. These commercial ventures are an essential part of answering how much do footballers get paid.

So, how much do footballers get paid? The answer ranges from modest to mind-blowing, depending on the level of the game, the player's status, and off-field opportunities. While top-tier players command staggering weekly wages and endorsements, many professionals in lower divisions earn salaries closer to the national average.

Football offers incredible financial rewards to a select few, but it also presents a challenging financial path for thousands of others trying to make a living from the sport. From six-figure weekly wages to part-time contracts, the world of footballer salaries is as varied as the game itself.