You know what they say: money makes the world go round. Not only in everyday life, but also in the rapidly growing realm of professional football. The top players on the planet are paid exorbitant sums to represent the world’s biggest teams, with prices reaching absurd proportions.
The rise of wealthy divisions such as the Saudi Pro League has provided not only generational wealth but also an alternative to the Premier League’s superpower status. In the past, practically all British footballers aimed for the English Premier League, but that may not be the case in 2025.
Some of the best players to come out of the United Kingdom have decided to take the risk and migrate abroad to establish a new career for themselves rather than fighting for a fair shot at the whip in England. So, who are the top earners among British celebrities who have taken this step? Find out below.
10Jobe Bellingham
£70,000-per-week
Although Jobe Bellingham wanted to establish his own profession and not follow in his brother Jude’s footsteps, he has, paradoxically, chosen the next step in his career, which looks quite similar to his sibling. He has chosen to join Borussia Dortmund following a successful spell in the Championship with Sunderland, where he helped steer them back to the Premier League.
He won’t be there for their return to the Promised Land; instead, he’ll be playing in front of thousands of Dortmund supporters, and Sky Sports correspondent Keith Downie estimates that the child will make almost £70,000 each week.
9Ruben Loftus-Cheek
£83,256-per-week
Chelsea’s youth academy has earned a reputation for constantly delivering gems over the last two decades. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, the west London club’s midfield general, appeared to be the next major star to emerge after breaking into the first squad as a teenager.
Despite playing as a squad player in a Premier League victory, the Englishman decided to relocate to Italy in pursuit of more game time and responsibility. The 29-year-old is a dependable and versatile midfielder who can play anywhere in the engine room, but the Rossoneri have not been at their best since his arrival on his £83,256-per-week contract in 2023.
8Dele Alli
£90,234-per-week
Dele Alli is a name you might not expect to see on this list. He was once regarded as the future of England’s midfield, but injury and off-field concerns took over his career. Alli left Tottenham to join Everton in an attempt to revive his stalling Premier League career, but he never achieved the great heights of his youth.
Cesc Fabregas’ intriguing initiative at Italian club Como has attracted several high-profile names. The 29-year-old joined in January 2025 after leaving Goodison Park. For over £90,000 per week, the club would have expected more than a red card within nine minutes of his Serie A debut. Whether he can turn things around remains to be seen.
7Scott McTominay
£90,234-per-week
Manchester United fans initially believed it was the correct time for Scott McTominay to leave Old Trafford after struggling to establish himself as a regular starter in Erik ten Hag’s squad. After emerging through the club’s youth ranks, the Scotland international was signed by Antonio Conte’s Napoli.
While some may have questioned McTominay and Billy Gilmour’s move to Italy’s top flight, the Scottish duo played an important role in the Naples-based club’s title push against Champions League finalists Inter Milan, which they eventually won in spectacular fashion. McTominay was, as one might expect, critical.
6Tammy Abraham
£93,642-per-week
Tammy Abraham, like Loftus-Cheek, was once considered a future star at Stamford Bridge. The typical English targetman made his debut for Chelsea under Frank Lampard in the 2019/20 season, scoring 15 league goals.
Despite being regarded as a long-term fit for the club’s number nine role, Abraham fell out of favour with Thomas Tuchel and eventually left for AS Roma in 2021. After a 17-goal first season in Serie A, Abraham’s form plummeted, and he is currently seeking to rebuild his career on loan at San Siro alongside the aforementioned Loftus-Cheek.
5Conor Gallagher
£146,062-per-week
Conor Gallagher was consistently valued by Chelsea’s managers. Mauricio Pochettino relied heavily on the Englishman in a struggling Blues midfield, while Graham Potter had already established him as a regular starter.
Despite his tireless work ethic and ball skills, Gallagher was forced to leave the team he grew up loving in order to assist Chelsea in meeting Financial Fair Play requirements. His move to Atletico Madrid was unexpected at the time, but Diego Simeone has grown to adore the man he lovingly refers to as ‘the pitbull’. He more than earns his large wage with the Spanish giants.
4Trent Alexander-Arnold
£240,000-per-week
With Trent Alexander-Arnold on the books at the Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid’s payroll continues to grow year after year. The right-back, widely regarded as one of the best defenders in global football, ultimately left England for Spain after long-standing interest from Los Blancos, and his debut appearance was impressive given that he spoke Spanish fluently.
Although he signed on a free transfer, the club paid €10 million to bring him in ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup – and, according to The Sun, Real Madrid’s No.12 will earn £240,000 a week now that he’s officially completed the move. It is unclear whether his talent will translate to La Liga.
3Jude Bellingham
£338,053-per-week
Jude Bellingham may be England’s biggest star, as the Real Madrid player is integral to everything his club or country does. Since moving to the Santiago Bernabeu from Borussia Dortmund in 2023, the 21-year-old has been nothing short of amazing.
He’s one of the highest-paid players in La Liga, with Robert Lewandowski, Kylian Mbappe, and Vinicius Junior, which is a fantastic accomplishment for someone his age. He is the only player on this list who has never played in the Premier League, but English fans will be hoping that someone will finally pay enough to entice him away from his £332,000-per-week salary in Spain.
2Harry Kane
£405,729-per-week
Harry Kane is England’s finest striker and all-time leading goal scorer. Despite this, he is not now the world’s highest-paid English player. Still, earning somewhat more than £400,000 every seven days is nothing to complain about.
The former Tottenham Hotspur star makes his money by routinely performing the hardest thing in the game: putting the ball in the back of the net. Kane has 82 goals in his 91 appearances for Bayern Munich, demonstrating why he is often regarded as one of the world’s top attackers.
1Ivan Toney
£414,006-per-week
For those who thought Ivan Toney was crazy for quitting the Premier League to join Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League while at the height of his powers, his standing as the highest-paid British player in world football may put any doubts to rest. The former Brentford striker was expected to join one of England’s best clubs before relocating to the Middle East.
Toney, one of the top penalty takers in world football, shown his ability to compete at the highest level by consistently performing for the Bees and England at Euro 2024 when called upon. He is still 29 years old and could return to European football in the coming years, albeit as a considerably richer man.
The 10 highest-paid British footballers playing abroad
Rank
Player
Club
Wage
1
Ivan Toney
Al-Ahli
£414,006-per-week
2
Harry Kane
Bayern Munich
£405,729-per-week
3
Jude Bellingham
Real Madrid
£338,053-per-week
4
Trent Alexander–Arnold
Real Madrid
£240,000-per-week
5
Conor Gallagher
Atlético Madrid
£146,062-per-week
6
Tammy Abraham
AC Milan (Loan)
£93,642-per-week
7
Scott McTominay
Napoil
£90,234-per-week
8
Dele Alli
Como
£90,234-per-week
9
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
AC Milan
£83,256-per-week
10
Jobe Bellingham
Borussia Dortmund
£70,000-per-week
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