The January transfer window has now closed, and Championship clubs have finalized their rosters for the rest of the season.
It was a lively winter market, with teams across the second tier looking for ways to improve their first-team rosters.
A lot of notable players were signed, including Coventry City, Middlesbrough, Hull City, and Ipswich Town, who are all in contention for automatic promotion.
Meanwhile, near the bottom of the table, Norwich City, Oxford United, West Brom, Blackburn Rovers, and Portsmouth were all busy trying to boost their survival chances.
We now turn to finances, utilizing Capology’s estimated data to determine who are the top 11 paid players in the Championship.
11Cameron Archer
Cameron Archer is in his second season at Southampton, having joined during the 2024 summer transfer window.
The forward arrived hoping to help the Saints re-establish themselves in the Premier League, but the squad was relegated after finishing 20th.
He joined St. Mary’s on a four-year contract, which will keep him in Hampshire until the summer of 2028.
As part of the deal, he earns £40,000 each week from the Championship club.
10Nat Phillips
Nat Phillips joined West Brom from Liverpool in the 2025 summer transfer window after impressing on loan at Derby County in the second tier.
The centre-back signed a three-year contract that would keep him at the Hawthorns until the summer of 2028, and he has established himself as an important member of the squad as they fight to avoid relegation to League One under Eric Ramsay.
The 28-year-old earns £40,000 a week from the Midlands outfit, which is hoping to avoid relegation to the third division for the first time since 1992.
9Mads Roerslev
Mads Roerslev joined Southampton in the summer transfer window of 2025, following the club’s relegation from Premier League.
According to reports, the team paid roughly £3 million to sign the 26-year-old, who moved to the Hampshire club after leaving the Premier League.
The full-back has struggled during his time at St. Mary’s, but he has a contract until June 2029, which will give him time to settle in.
The Danish international is presently earning £40,000 a week as part of his transfer from Brentford to Southampton.
8Hamza Choudhury
Hamza Choudhury came up through Leicester City’s academy system and has since established himself as a key member of the first team.
While the academy graduate has struggled for consistent minutes in previous years, he has shown to be a valuable member of the club this season.
The midfielder had loan periods at Burton Albion, Watford, and Sheffield United, but he has been a consistent member in the squad this season.
The 28-year-old’s most current contract, which expires in June 2027, pays him £50,000 per week.
7Finn Azaz
Finn Azaz moved from Middlesbrough to Southampton during the 2025 summer transfer window for an estimated £15 million.
The playmaker impressed for the Teesside club, and the Saints paid a high amount to get him in the hopes that he would help them win promotion back to the Premier League at the first try.
However, despite his strong individual performance levels, the Ireland international has had a difficult start to life.
When he joined the Hampshire club, the 25-year-old signed a four-year contract and received a weekly salary of £50,000.
6Oliver Skipp
Oliver Skipp moved from Tottenham Hotspur to Leicester in the summer of 2024, signing a five-year contract.
The midfielder failed to assist the Foxes stay in the Premier League after signing following their promotion from the Championship.
While he has not been a significant member of the club since signing from Tottenham, he has been a valuable addition.
However, he continues to receive £50,000 per week from Leicestershire as part of his contract, which extends until June 2029, making him the fourth highest paid player in the second division.
5Carlos Vicente
Carlos Vicente is the most recent addition to this list, having joined Birmingham City in the final stages of the January transfer window.
The Spaniard moved to St. Andrew’s to help Chris Davies’ team, which is aiming for a playoff spot.
It remains to be seen whether he will be a valuable addition to the squad, but he is clearly indicative of the club’s expanding ambition.
The 26-year-old agreed to a contract worth £50,000 per week upon joining the Blues from La Liga side Alaves.
4Jannik Vestergaard
Jannik Vestergaard joined Leicester in the 2021 summer transfer window, arriving from Southampton.
The Dane has been a steady presence for the Foxes in recent years, and he played a vital role in their promotion to the Premier League under Enzo Maresca in 2024, appearing in 42 of their 46 league games.
The Championship club pays the 33-year-old £60,000 per week and has him on contract until June 2027.
Given his age and the Foxes’ own financial issues, it is unclear whether he will remain at the club beyond his 2027 deal.
3Patson Daka
The Dane has been a steady presence for the Foxes in recent years, and he played a vital role in their promotion to the Premier League under Enzo Maresca in 2024, appearing in 42 of their 46 league games.
The Championship club pays the 33-year-old £60,000 per week and has him on contract until June 2027.
Given his age and the Foxes’ own financial issues, it is unclear whether he will remain at the club beyond his 2027 deal.
2Ricardo Pereira
Ricardo Pereira is now one of Leicester’s longest-serving players, having arrived during the 2018 summer transfer window.
The full-back has struggled with injuries over the years, but when he’s on his game, he’s one of the most vital members of the club.
The 30-year-old is the Championship’s second highest-paid player, earning £80,000 a week.
Pereira’s contract is slated to expire at the end of the current season, and it is unclear whether the Championship side would extend it for another year.
1Harry Winks
Harry Winks is the second division’s highest-paid player, earning £90,000.
The midfielder came from Tottenham Hotspur during the 2023 summer transfer window, signing a three-year contract that will expire in June.
The 30-year-old is expected to leave the King Power Stadium at the conclusion of the season unless an extension is agreed upon sooner.
Given the club’s recent financial troubles, removing someone from the wage bill may be more helpful in the long term.
The EFL Championship’s highest-paid loan players (based on Capology estimates)
Player
Loan Club
Permanent Club
Loan Wage P/W (Permanent Club Contribution).
Matt Targett
Middlesbrough
Newcastle United
£60,000 (£40,000)
John Lundstram
Hull City
Trabzonspor.
£45,000 (£31,208)
Kalvin Phillips
Sheffield United
Manchester City
£45,000 (£105,000)
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