The universe revolves on money. not only in professional football but also in daily life. The top players in the world are paid outrageous sums to play for the greatest clubs in the world; the numbers are absurd.
In addition to generating money for future generations, the rise of affluent leagues like the Saudi Pro League has given the Premier League a rival to its dominance. Almost all British football players used to aim for the English top division, but that isn’t always the case in 2025.
Instead of battling for a fair shot at the top in England, some of the best players to come out of the UK have made the bold decision to leave the country and start a new career abroad. Among the British celebrities who have made this move, who are the highest paid? Learn more below.
10Kyle Walker
£76,335-per-week
In January, Kyle Walker abruptly decided to leave Manchester City following a rocky start to the 2024–25 campaign. As a member of Pep Guardiola’s Premier League dynasty, the right-back is among England’s most successful defenders ever.
Many were caught off guard by his loan move to AC Milan, and his future is still up in the air as the Serie A team struggles to qualify for European play next season. According to reports, the Italian powerhouses pay him £76,335 a week.
9Eric Dier
£82,436-per-week
After Ange Postecoglou rejected and underutilised him at Tottenham, Eric Dier went on to play and score for Bayern Munich in a Champions League quarterfinal. How about a makeover? When called upon, the 49-cap England international is a reliable player for Vincent Kompany’s team.
After being cast off in north London, the former Spurs utility player has proven many of his sceptics wrong as he establishes himself in the Bayern first team. Dier has earned his weekly salary of somewhat more than £80,000, and although he can play as a defensive midfielder, he is now almost entirely employed as a central defender.
8Ruben Loftus-Cheek
£84,580-per-week
Over the past 20 years, Chelsea’s youth program has gained notoriety for continuously turning out gem after diamond. After making his first-team debut as a youngster, Ruben Loftus-Cheek appeared to be the next big star to come out of the west London squad.
The Englishman chose to relocate to Italy in pursuit of greater playing time and responsibilities, even though he contributed as a squad member to a Premier League victory. The Rossoneri haven’t been at their best since he joined on an £85,000-per-week wage in 2023, but the 29-year-old is a dependable and adaptable midfielder who can play anywhere in the engine room.
7Dele Alli
£91,669-per-week
Dele Alli is a name that might not be expected to be on this list. His career was overtaken by off-field problems and injuries after he was once thought to be the midfield’s future for England. Alli never achieved the amazing heights of his youth, leaving Tottenham to join Everton in an attempt to revive his faltering Premier League career.
Several well-known people have joined Cesc Fabregas’ ambitious endeavour at the Italian club Como. After departing Goodison Park, the 29-year-old was signed in January 2025. The club would have hoped for more than a red card inside nine minutes of his Serie A debut, because he earns around £90,000 a week.
6Scott McTominay
£91,669-per-week
After Scott McTominay failed to establish himself as a consistent starter in Erik ten Hag’s team, Manchester United supporters initially believed it was the appropriate moment for him to leave Old Trafford. The Scotland international was signed by Antonio Conte’s Napoli after rising through the club’s youth systems.
Although some may have objected to players like McTominay and Billy Gilmour joining the Italian top division, the two Scottish players have been instrumental in the Naples-based team’s run for the championship against Inter Milan, the semi-finalists in the Champions League.
5Tammy Abraham
£95,132-per-week
Similar to Loftus-Cheek, Tammy Abraham was once viewed as a potential star at Stamford Bridge. Under Frank Lampard’s leadership, the English target man made his debut at Chelsea in the 2019–20 season, tallying 15 league goals.
Abraham was thought to be a long-term fit for the club’s number nine spot, but under Thomas Tuchel, he lost favour and left for AS Roma in 2021. Abraham’s form drastically declined following a 17-goal Serie A debut season, and he is currently working with Walker and Loftus-Cheek on loan at San Siro to try to rebuild his career.
4Conor Gallagher
£143,496-per-week
At Chelsea, Conor Gallagher’s managers consistently gave him high marks. Graham Potter had already made the Englishman a mainstay in his starting lineup, but Mauricio Pochettino kept calling on him in a struggling Blues midfield.
Gallagher was forced to leave the team he grew up supporting in order to help Chelsea balance the books from a Financial Fair Play perspective, despite his unwavering work ethic and skill on the ball. Diego Simeone has come to appreciate the man he lovingly refers to as “the pitbull,” even though his transfer to Atletico Madrid was unexpected at the time. With the Spanish powerhouses, he is more than making his handsome wage.
3Jude Bellingham
£332,112-per-week
Given how important the Real Madrid star is to everything his team or nation does, Jude Bellingham may be the biggest star England has to offer. The 21-year-old has been nothing short of spectacular since moving from Borussia Dortmund to the Santiago Bernabeu in 2023.
Along with players like Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe, and Robert Lewandowski, he is among the most paid players in La Liga, which is amazing to be in at such a young age. Although he is the only player on this list without Premier League experience, English supporters will be hoping that someone will ultimately be able to pay him enough to lure him away from his £332,000 weekly salary in Spain.
2Harry Kane
£398,599-per-week
Harry Kane is the greatest striker in England and the country’s all-time leading scorer. He isn’t currently the highest-paid English player in the world, despite this. However, earning little under £400,000 every seven days isn’t a reason for dissatisfaction.
The former Tottenham hero often puts the ball in the net, which is the hardest thing in the game, to earn his money. Kane has scored 79 goals for Bayern Munich in just 87 games for the Bavarian team, demonstrating his status as one of the world’s top attackers.
1Ivan Toney
£406,730-per-week
Ivan Toney’s reputation as the highest-paid British player in world football may allay any criticism directed at him for abandoning the Premier League to join Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League while he was at the height of his abilities. Before relocating to the Middle East, the former Brentford striker was predicted to sign with one of the best teams in England.
With reliable performances for the Bees and England at Euro 2024 whenever called upon, Toney—one of the top penalty takers in international football—proved he could compete at the highest level. Even though he is only 29, he might make a comeback to European football in the upcoming years, this time with much more money.
The Top 10 British Football Players Earning the Most Money Abroad
Rank
The player
Club
Salary
One
Toney, Ivan
Al-Ahli
£406,730.00 a week
2.
Kane, Harry
The Bayern Munich
£398,599 a week
3.
Bellingham, Jude
Real Madrid
£332,112 a week
4.
Gallagher, Conor
Real Madrid
£143,496 a week
5.
Abraham Tammy
AC Milan (loan)
£95,132 a week
6.
McTominay, Scott
Napoil
£91,669 a week
7.
Alli Dele
Como
£91,669 a week
8.
Loftus-Cheek, Ruben
Milan AC
£84,580 a week
9.
Dier, Eric
The Bayern Munich
£82,436 a week
10.
Walker, Kyle
AC Milan (loan)
£76,335 a week
