The Premier League is one of the most popular and lucrative leagues in the world, and as such, it’s no surprise that the salaries of its players are some of the highest in the world. The top 10 highest-paid players in EPL history earn a combined total of over £200 million per year, and their wages can be a source of both envy and debate.
Some people believe that these players are overpaid, while others argue that they deserve their high salaries for their talent and contribution to the game
Furthermore, there are several variables that have contributed to the trend of increasing Premier League player salaries in recent years. One reason is the Premier League’s rising commercial revenue, which has enabled clubs to spend more on salaries.
The Premier League’s widespread appeal, which has increased its appeal to star players, is another aspect. That said, let’s discuss the top 10 highest-paid players in EPL in detail in this article.
Top 10 Highest-paid Players in EPL
Here is a table of the top 10 highest-paid players in EPL in 2023, per Spotrac:
| Rank | Player | Club | Weekly Wage (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin De Bruyne | Manchester City | 400,000 |
| 2 | Erling Haaland | Manchester City | 375,000 |
| 3 | Marcus Rashford | Manchester United | 350,000 |
| 4 | Casemiro | Manchester United | 300,000 |
| 5 | David de Gea | Manchester United | 375,000 |
| 6 | Raheem Sterling | Chelsea | 325,000 |
| 7 | Raphael Varane | Manchester United | 340,000 |
| 8 | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | 350,000 |
| 9 | Jack Grealish | Manchester City | 300,000 |
| 10 | Mason Mount | Man U | £250,000 |
1. Kevin De Bruyne
Kevin De Bruyne is the highest-paid player in the EPL with a weekly wage of £400,000; he is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Manchester City and captains the Belgium national team.
He is widely regarded as one of the best players of his generation as well as one of the best midfielders in the world. Pundits often describe him as a complete footballer.
De Bruyne was just a regular player when Genk won the Belgian Pro League in 2010–11. Genk was where De Bruyne started his career. He joined English club Chelsea in 2012, played little there, and was later loaned to Werder Bremen.
He has won the FA Cup, four League Cups, Champion League and the Premier League since joining Manchester City. Additionally, in 2019 and 2020, he received two PFA Players’ Player of the Year awards. For his creativity, passing prowess, and shooting precision, De Bruyne is well-known.
2. Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland has proven to be an amazing player over the years, and being among the highest-paid player in the EPL is no debate.
Haaland is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester City and the Norway national team.
Furthermore, he began his career at Bryne, where he made his senior debut in 2017. In 2018, he moved to Molde, where he scored 20 goals in 14 games.
He moved to Red Bull Salzburg in January 2019 where he scored 29 goals in 27 games. LikeIn December 2019, he moved to Borussia Dortmund, where he scored 86 goals in 89 games.
Haaland has won the Golden Boy award, the Bundesliga Player of the Season award, and the Champions League top scorer award. He has also been named to the FIFA FIFPro World11.
3. Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team.
Rashford began his career at Manchester United, where he made his senior debut in 2016. He has since gone on to score over 100 goals for the club. He has also won the FA Cup, the League Cup, and the Europa League with United.
More so, he has been capped 53 times by England and has scored 13 goals for the national team. He was part of the England squad that reached the final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Rashford is considered to be one of the best young players in the world and he is third on our list of the top 10 highest-paid players in EPL in 2023.
4. Casemiro
Carlos Henrique Casimiro, popularly known as Casemiro, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Premier League club Manchester United and captains the Brazilian national team.
He began his career at São Paulo, where he made his senior debut in 2010. In 2013, he moved to Real Madrid, where he has won four Champions League titles, four UEFA Club World Cups, and three La Liga titles.
Additionally, he has been capped 60 times by Brazil and won the Copa América in 2019. He was also part of the Brazil squad that won the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2013.
Casemiro is considered to be one of the best defensive midfielders in the world and he is third on our list of the top 10 highest-paid players in EPL.
5. David de Gea
Another amazing player on our list is David de Gea Quintana; he is a Spanish professional footballer who formerly played as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Manchester United.
De Gea began his career at Atlético Madrid, where he made his senior debut in 2009. In 2011, he moved to Manchester United for a world-record fee for a goalkeeper of £18.9 million.
Additionally, he has won the Premier League title, the FA Cup, the League Cup, the UEFA Europa League, and the UEFA Super Cup with Manchester United. He has also been named the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year four times.
De Gea is considered to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world and he is fifth on our list of the top 10 highest-paid players in EPL in 2023.
6. Raheem Sterling
Raheem Shaquille Sterling MBE is an English professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Premier League club Chelsea and captains the England national team.
Sterling began his career at Queens Park Rangers, before signing for Liverpool in 2010. He made his senior debut for Liverpool in 2011 and went on to win the League Cup and the UEFA Champions League with the club. In 2015, he moved to Manchester City for a club-record fee of £49 million.
With Manchester City, Sterling has won four Premier League titles, four League Cups, and the FA Cup. He has also been named to the PFA Team of the Year twice.
Sterling is a vocal advocate for social justice and has campaigned against racism in football. He was awarded an MBE in 2021 for his work in this area.
7. Raphael Varane
Raphael Varane is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Manchester United. He is known for his strong physique and excellent defensive skills.
Varane was born in Lens, France, and joined Lille at the age of 19. He moved to Real Madrid in 2011 and won numerous titles in 10 years, including four La Liga titles, four UEFA Champions League titles, and one FIFA Club World Cup.
In the summer of 2021, he moved to Manchester United and currently plays in the Premier League. He is also active in the French national team and was a member of the team that won the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Additionally, he is one of the best centre-backs in the world and is a key member of Manchester United’s defence. His play has a big impact on his teammates, and he is essential for Manchester United to be competitive again.
8. Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah is an Egyptian professional footballer who plays as a right winger for Premier League club Liverpool. He is considered to be one of the best players in the world.
Salah was born in a town along the Nile River in Egypt. He was interested in football from a young age and started playing at a local club when he was 10 years old.
More so, in the summer of 2016, Salah moved to the English club Liverpool where he quickly became a key player for the team, and in the 2017-18 season, he scored 22 goals in the Premier League to win the Golden Boot.
He also scored two goals in the UEFA Champions League final against FC Real Madrid, helping Liverpool to win the title. Salah is eighth on our list of the top 10 highest-paid players in EPL.
9. Jack Grealish
Jack Grealish is another amazing player among the highest-paid players in EPL; he is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger or attacking midfielder for Premier League club Manchester City and the England national team.
Grealish is often considered to be one of the most popular and marketable athletes in England. Grealish was born in Birmingham, England, and began his career at Aston Villa, where he made his senior debut in 2014. He quickly became a key player for the club, and in 2018 he was named Aston Villa’s Player of the Year.
However, in 2021, Grealish was signed by Manchester City for a club-record fee of £100 million. He made his debut for the club in August 2021 and has since established himself as a key player for Pep Guardiola’s side. He is also a good finisher and has scored some impressive goals in his career.
10. Mason Mount
Mason Mount is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking or central midfielder for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team.
Mount began his career at Chelsea, where he made his senior debut in 2017. He spent the 2017-18 season on loan at Vitesse Arnhem, where he won the Eredivisie Young Player of the Year award. He returned to Chelsea in 2018 and has since become a regular in the first team.
Mount has represented England at the under-17, under-19, under-21, and senior levels. He made his senior debut for England in 2019 and has since won 21 caps for the national team.
Importantly, Mason Mount is an important part of Manchester United’s future. He is a young player with a lot of potential, and he is sure to become even more important in the years to come.
Conclusion
The Premier League is one of the most lucrative leagues in the world, and the salaries of the top players reflect that. The players on this list are all among the best in the world, and they are paid accordingly.
Of course, there are some factors that contribute to a player’s salary besides their on-field ability. For example, some players are paid more because they are more marketable or because they have a larger social media following. However, even when these factors are taken into account, the players on this list are still among the highest-paid athletes in the world.
