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Footy Fortunes: The Richest Contracts In The English Premier League
With multiple celebrity athletes recently joining the billionaire club, several soccer savants could soon be knocking on the door.
When you’re young, the thought of being a famous athlete, rockstar or astronaut seems tantalizing — that is, until you realize the absurd degree of talent it takes to forge a successful career in any vocation, let alone something as mercurial as sports, entertainment, or astrophysics. For every Jordan, Einstein or Bono, there’s a trail of promising pros who burned out well before their ascension into fame’s hallowed halls.
Still, for those who have the moxie and the skill to back it up the sky is the limit, especially when it comes to big paydays for current athletes like LeBron James, Tiger Woods, and Roger Federer — all recently minted members of the billionaire club. Now, as the roaring blaze of soccer fandom continues to spread around the globe like wildfire, several English Premier League players have inked mind-boggling contracts, making a case for why footballers should have a seat at the table. Here are some of the richest in the league.
Mohamed Saleh
Team: Liverpool
Contract: 3 years / £54.6 million
Free Agent: 2025
The Egyptian pitch wizard will earn an excess of £350,000 per week — Liverpool’s highest salary ever. Rightfully so, the Reds’ forward put on an absolutely lethal display of dribbling, speed, and finishing to win the Golden Boot in 2022, notching an impressive 22 goals with eight being unassisted. Adored by fans and teammates alike for his commitment to his craft, Mo’s known to exude an unparalleled level of fatigue-free fitness, and his football acumen continues to grow season after season.
David De Gea
Team: Manchester United
Contract: 6 years / £117 million
Free Agent: 2024
As one of the most preeminent shot blockers to ever play the game, De Gea, known as “Sticky Gloves,” moves between posts with the effortless grace of a leopard, utilizing battle-tested instinct and tenacity to vanquish any offensive threat that dares to enter his kingdom. With more than 450 appearances, an FA Cup, a League Cup, and a Premier League title, the 2017 Golden Glove winner is a force to be reckoned with and earned his well-deserved reputation as the backbone of Old Trafford.
Kevin De Bruyne
Team: Manchester City
Contract: 5 years / £104 million
Free Agent: 2025
Peppering De Bruyne's resume are a litany of remarkable stats: He ranks third in passes into the box with 294; he ranks fourth in goals by foot with 15; and he ranks fourth in expected assists with 15. Awarded the PFA Player of the Year award in 2020, the Belgian boy wonder commands the midfield brilliantly, eclipsing his opponents’ in-game momentum with creative playmaking and strategic, defense-shredding passing that inspires his fans and stuns his foes. If his dazzling display last year, where he clinically picked apart Manchester United for a 4-1 win, is any sort of sign to come, expect a healthy dose of more valiant efforts from De Bruyne as he continues to assert himself as one of the top midfielders in the league.
Erling Haaland
Team: Manchester City
Contract: 5 years / £51.5 million (* Contract buyout eligible after 2 years for £128 million)
Free Agent: 2027
Viking blood must be coursing through this Norwegian phenom because, at 6’4", he’s absolutely fearless on the pitch. His debut for Dortmund played less like a typical football match and more in the vein of a Hollywood blockbuster, considering the then-19-year-old stepped onto the field well into the second half and miraculously scored a hat trick to lift his squad to a 5-3 victory. During the 2020-2021 season, Haaland leathered nearly a goal a game, tallying 27 in 28 games. Among the English Premier League’s best strikers, over the course of a 90-minute match, he ranks first in goals, shots on target, and expected goals, all of which elevate him ahead of Manchester United’s legendary scorer Ronaldo. Though his exact contract details are speculative at this point, the newest goal-scoring machine in the EPL looks to be well on his way to becoming the highest paid player in the league’s near future.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Team: Manchester United
Contract: 2 years / £53.04 million
Free Agent: 2024
Having made his professional debut in 2002, the Portuguese talisman officially became a billionaire in 2020, crowning him the fourth highest-paid figure that year — behind only Kylie Jenner, Kanye West, and Roger Federer. With his goals in 2020-2021 totaling 36 from 44 outings and 24 goals in 38 appearances last season, Ronaldo has cemented himself as a generational talent whose electric play on the pitch can turn the tide of nearly any match instantly. Now that it appears a transfer to Chelsea has failed to materialize, fans and critics alike will be keen to see if the legend can propel the Citizens to a title in the 2022-2023 season.
The English Premier League would not be what it is if not for the ever-ensuing drama originating from major player transfers. With rumors abounding that the cunning winger Neymar is seriously considering a move from Paris Saint-Germain to Chelsea, be on the lookout for a major contract for the Brazilian if he makes his way to Stamford Bridge for the Blues.
Watch Premier League coverage on USA Network, featuring Premier League Mornings, select matches, and Premier League Goal Zone (check listings for games/schedule). And catch up on all the action on Peacock.
