Football is changing, and young players are making incredible sums of money at a young age. Some of the sport’s most promising players are already earning millions of dollars thanks to clubs’ significant investments in the next generation. Here is a ranking of the top 15 young football players in 2025 based on their yearly salary.
15. Arsenal, England’s Ethan Nwaneri makes £149,000 a year, or £2,865 a week.
At his age, Nwaneri, the youngest Premier League début in Arsenal’s history, has been compared to Lionel Messi. Even though he hasn’t signed a full professional contract yet, his potential is obvious, and his pay will likely increase soon.
14. Myles Lewis-Skelly of Arsenal, England, makes £169,000 a year, or £3,250 a week.
Despite being one of England’s most potential left-backs, Lewis-Skelly has not yet committed to a professional deal. He apparently receives approximately £200,000 a week in demand, which is a huge sum for a minor.
13. Southampton, England-based Tyler Dibling makes £260,000 a year (£5,000 a week).
Although he is still in the early stages of his career, Tyler Dibling, a rising star at Southampton, is making a good living.
12. Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United, England, earns £960,000 annually (£18,461 per week).
Initially hailed as a potential midfield star for Manchester United, Mainoo has had trouble staying consistent. His pay is still impressive even if his performance has declined.
11. Rico Lewis, Manchester City, England; £1.5 million annually (£28,846 weekly)
The highly regarded full-back for Manchester City has established himself in Pep Guardiola’s team. Despite the club’s enormous wealth, they still view Lewis as an important component of their future.
10. Barcelona, Spain’s Lamine Yamal makes £1.3 million a year, or £25,000 a week.
Even though he hasn’t signed a full professional contract yet, Yamal, who is perhaps the finest adolescent in world football, is already making a good living. His quick ascent indicates that a larger payout is imminent.
9. Endrick: Real Madrid, Brazil; £2 million year (£38,461 weekly)
Since joining Real Madrid in the summer of 2024, the Brazilian sensation has made it a habit to score goals everytime he plays. His enormous potential is reflected in his big compensation.
8. Marc Gui, Chelsea, England; £2.4 million annually (£46,154 weekly)
Following his transfer from Barcelona to Chelsea, Gui has had difficulty securing consistent playing time. His pay is nevertheless substantial in spite of this.
7. Désiré Doué: PSG, France; £2.7 million annually (£51,923 weekly).
One of France’s most promising young players is the former midfielder for Rennes. He has kept up his form and earned a greater wage at a young age after joining Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2024.
6. Mathys Tel: £3.3 million annually, or £63,462 weekly. France’s Tottenham
After joining Tottenham on a last-minute loan from Bayern Munich, Tel has immediately made an impression and scored the team’s first goal.
5. Real Betis, Brazil’s Vitor Roque earns £3.5 million year (£67,308 per week).
Roque spent two years on loan at Real Betis after failing to establish himself at Barcelona. The club’s long-standing confidence in his ability is reflected in his substantial salary.
4. Pau Cubarsí, Barcelona, £4 million annually (£76,923 weekly),
At Barcelona, Cubarsí has exceeded expectations and become an essential defender. The Catalan team thinks they may have discovered their answer because it’s hard to replace club superstars like Gerard Piqué and Carles Puyol.
3. Manchester’s Leny Yoro, who earns £5.5 million year (£105,769 weekly).
Many people consider Yoro to be among the top young defenders in football. He has already acquired generational wealth at a young age since joining Manchester United.
2. Arda Güler, Real Madrid, Turkey; £5.6 million annually (£107,692 weekly)
Real Madrid signed Güler in 2023, and since then, he has displayed glimmers of his extraordinary skill. His growth has been hindered by injuries, but his high salary shows that the organisation believes in him.
1. Warren Zaïre-Emery, PSG, France; £8 million year (£153,846 weekly)
Since Mbappé, Messi, and Neymar left, PSG has looked to Zaïre-Emery as a pivotal player for their future. His maturity and midfield skills have already earned him a cap for France, making him one of the most fascinating young players in international football.
