Even footballers with those eye-watering wages can't dodge the taxman. Premier League stars might enjoy the world's finest luxuries, but they're still handing over massive chunks of their earnings to HMRC.
The top 10 highest-paid players collectively paid more than £100 million in taxes last year. That's counting income tax, which can hit 45% in the UK, plus corporation tax, dividend tax, and capital gains tax for those who've set up companies. Not bad for a group often accused of contributing nothing to society, right?
Man City's Haaland Leads the Pack
Erling Haaland sits comfortably at number one with a staggering £16.9 million tax bill. That eye-watering figure comes after he signed a monster contract extension in January that runs until 2034. The Norwegian shrugged it off saying it felt "really normal" for him. Easy to say when you're still pocketing millions after tax.
Mohamed Salah comes in second at £14.5 million, though his on-pitch performances this season haven't quite matched previous years. Even Tottenham's Richarlison has more goal contributions than Liverpool's Egyptian king this campaign. With constant Saudi Pro League links and tension with Arne Slot, Salah's time in England might be running short.
Manchester United's Casemiro rounds out the top three at £10.9 million, but he won't be paying UK taxes much longer. The Brazilian has confirmed he's leaving at season's end, with Saudi Arabia and MLS both potential destinations. For punters tracking United's rebuild, losing Casemiro represents another major squad overhaul this summer.
Arsenal Duo Feature Prominently
Kai Havertz (£7.8m) and Gabriel Jesus (£7.9m) both make the list for Arsenal. Interestingly, Bukayo Saka's bumper January contract extension means he'll likely join them next year. That's significant spending power for a team competing for the title.
Other notable names include Virgil van Dijk at £9.7 million—now the world's highest-paid defender after his extension. Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva both paid £9 million, while Man City's January signing Omar Marmoush surprised many at £8.8 million, suggesting City offered serious financial incentives to pry him from Eintracht Frankfurt mid-season.
Raheem Sterling's £9.8 million payment came while at Chelsea, but expect that to drop dramatically. He's reportedly accepting less than a third of his previous £325,000-a-week wages after tearing up his Stamford Bridge contract. That's a massive pay cut that speaks volumes about his desperation to play regular football again.
