One would expect English football, given the popularity of the Premier League, to be a money-making engine. That is correct in terms of how much money players in England’s top division typically earn on a weekly basis. Championship clubs, including Leicester City, Oxford United, and Millwall, spend far less money on player wages.
The attention, from teams in England to those in the Middle East following the boom of the beautiful game, is often on the riches, and it’s not unreasonable to wonder how much players are paid to do what they enjoy: play football.
Transfer fees are typically huge sums of money for clubs in England’s second tier; however, the same cannot be said for a player’s average pay, particularly when compared to those in the Premier League. Using Capology data, we analysed each club’s annual pay bill for the current season. Let’s have a closer look.
24. Charlton Athletic (£9,103,200)
Charlton Athletic will be trying to remain put after manager Nathan Jones led last season’s promotion to England’s second division – and given the size and stature of the south London club, it may surprise you that they have the lowest pay cost of all 24 teams at £9,103,200 per year. Will the Addicks survive the drop?
23. Portsmouth – £9,568,000
Portsmouth were a legitimate Premier League club from 2003/04 to 2009/10, but major financial troubles have caused them to move up and down the English football pyramid since then. With John Swift as their highest-paid player at £20,000 per week, they are presently in the nation’s second tier, spending just shy of £10 million on pay.
22. Sheffield Wednesday: £11,515,400.
Last season, Sheffield Wednesday, led by highest-earner and club veteran Barry Bannan, finished mid-table after winning 15 of their 46 second-tier fixtures. As previously said, Bannan makes a good living up north, as do Yan Valery and Nathaniel Chalobah, both of whom earn £20,000 each week.
21. Swansea City – £12,380,000
Swansea City, the other Championship team situated in Wales, finished 11th with 61 points last season. Summer signings Adam Idah and Cameron Burgess both earn £25,000 per week.
20. Coventry City – £12,948,000.
Coventry City’s Luke Woolfenden, Matt Grimes, Ellis Simms, and Haji Wright all make £25,000 per week, bringing their total annual outlay to little under £13 million. After coming so close to promotion last season, will Frank Lampard do the unfathomable this time?
19. Blackburn Rovers: £13,106,000.
xz
