The 10 highest-paid Premier League players in 2021/22: with Cristiano Ronaldo ahead

The English Premier League is the most glamorous of all the European leagues and undoubtedly the most popular too. The EPL is home to players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Romelu Lukaku, Mohamed Salah, Harry Kane and Kevin de Bruyne. Whilst top coaches such as Pep Guardiola, Juergen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel and Claudio Ranieri all ply their trade in the English League.

These big names attract the best deals and best sponsorship offers which in turn translates to more money being paid to everyone involved. This is why the English Premier League is the highest-paying league and the most popular too. Though the French Ligue 1 is home to the highest-paid footballers, Lionel Messi & Neymar (€35m), the Premier League possesses a higher number of well-paid players. We'll look at the Top 10 below: 

10. Paul Pogba - Manchester United (£290,000)

French international, Paul Labile Pogba comes in 10th in a list of super-rich footballers. The former Juventus player is one of the most influential players at Old Trafford but he wouldn't be No 10 for long. The World Cup winner is rumoured to want out of the Red Devils team but he is being offered a 6-year contract extension worth £400,000 per week. Pogba might prefer to leave for Paris Saint-Germain though with the promise of higher wages than on the table at Old Trafford. 

9. Ngolo Kante - Chelsea (£290,000)

Up until the arrival of Romelu Lukaku at Chelsea, energetic midfielder, Ngolo Kante was the highest-paid player at Stamford Bridge. The all-in-one midfielder justifies his paycheck with his all-action displays for Thomas Tuchel and the predecessors before him. His influential displays for Chelsea in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League won him the UEFA Midfielder of the Year (2020/21).

8. Raheem Sterling - Manchester City (£300,000)

England international, Raheem Sterling comes in at No 8 with a weekly salary of £300,000. The former Liverpool player is the 3rd highest-paid player at the Etihad and the 3rd highest-paid English player in the EPL. The pacy winger is one of the best players under Pep Guardiola as well as under Gareth Southgate for the English National team. Sterling played all the matches for England at the just concluded Euro2020, playing up to the final of the competition. 

7. Jack Grealish - Manchester City (£300,000)

Former Aston Villa captain, Jack Grealish earned a huge pay raise when he completed a £100m move to Manchester City this summer. The England international signed a 5-year contract with the Citizens and he's set to earn up to £78m over the course of his deal with City.

6. Romelu Lukaku - Chelsea FC (£325,000)

The Belgian striker has become the highest-paid player at Chelsea after his homecoming this summer. The 28-year-old striker was signed for £98m after helping Inter Milan reclaim the Serie A title after 10 years. Lukaku will hope to help Chelsea mount a challenge for the league whilst also defending their UEFA Champions League crown. 

5. Raphael Varane - Manchester United (£340,000)

The French international became the highest-paid defender when he moved from Real Madrid to Manchester United this summer. Varane banks £340,000 weekly, which translates to £17.68m annually. 

4. Jadon Sancho - Manchester United - (£350,000)

Former city academy player, Jadon Sancho has been rewarded for his promise with a bumper deal on signing for United.  Jadon Sancho is the youngest of the Top 10 highest-earners in the EPL. He is one of the 5 Manchester United players on this list.

3. David de Gea - Manchester United - (£375,000)

Spanish goalkeeper makes the Top 3 of the highest-paid footballers in the English Premier League. He is also the highest-earning goalkeeper in the EPL. His salary of £375,000 weekly was ratified after he tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to complete a transfer to Real Madrid in 2016. 

2. Kevin de Bruyne - Manchester City (£400,000)

The Belgian playmaker was for long number 1 on the list of highest-paid footballers in the EPL. Kevin de Bruyne is the chief creative force at City and he is well-paid for it. His annual salary comes in at £20.80m. De Bruyne is thus the highest-earner at Manchester City. 

1. Cristiano Ronaldo  - Manchester United (£510,000)

5-time Ballon d'Or winner, Ronaldo earns the most money ever paid to a footballer in the EPL. Despite taking a significant pay cut from the €700,000 weekly he was earning at Juventus, the Portugal captain is still easily the highest-paid footballer in the EPL.