Manchester United salaries 2021/2022: Who is the highest-paid player after Cristiano Ronaldo?

Manchester United is one of the biggest spenders in world football in terms of transfer fees and weekly wages. Their incredible wealth and strong commercial appeal mean they can spend as much as they want to without caring for Financial Fair Play regulations or even bankruptcy. Sources of their wealth are predominantly from sponsorship deals, TV rights, Premier League prize money, Ticket sales and club merchandise. 

The Red Devils have used this money judiciously in assembling one of the best, and best-paid, squads in the Premier League and world football as a whole. On the list of Top 10 highest-paid footballers in the Premier League, Manchester United players represent a whopping 50%. United boasts of the best-paid goalkeeper and forward in the Premier League. Of course, the highest-paid in the English Premier League, Cristiano Ronaldo, also plays at Old Trafford. So let's take a look at the salaries/wages of Manchester United players.

Who are the Top-5 highest-paid players at Manchester United?

Few clubs can boast of having a Ballon d'Or winner on their books, least of all, a player who has won 5 Ballon d'Or titles. United has that in Cristiano Ronaldo and they pay handsomely for that. The Portuguese forward, on his return to Manchester United, signed a 2-year contract worth £510,000 weekly. This easily makes Cristiano Ronaldo the highest-paid footballer at Manchester United and in the Premier League. 

In second place is Spanish goalkeeper, David de Gea. The shot-stopper takes home £375,000 weekly, a figure that makes him the highest-paid goalkeeper in the Premier League. Former Manchester City academy player, Jadon Sancho, earns a whopping £350,000 weekly from his 5-year contract at Old Trafford. Sancho completed a £79m transfer from Borussia Dortmund this summer, signing on till summer 2026.

Another new signing, Raphael Varane banks £340,000 weekly also from his 5-year contract at Manchester United. The 4-time UEFA Champions League winner brings a lot of experience and leadership to a backline in need of such. Fellow Frenchman, Paul Pogba rounds off the Top 5 earners list at Manchester United with his £290,000-a-week contract. Pogba's contract has entered its final year and the United management has offered him a new £450,000-a-week contract that he's yet to sign. It is believed that Pogba would prefer a move to PSG in a bid to win titles.

What are the wages of (other) players at Manchester United?

Outside of the Top 5, most players at Manchester United bank millions of pounds annually in wages. Forwards, Edinson Cavani and Anthony Martial both earn £250,000 weekly while Marcus Rashford earns £200,000 weekly for his efforts upfront. The forward trio catapulted Manchester United to a 2nd-place finish in the league and the UEFA Europa League final during the 2020/21 season.

The most expensive defender in Premier League history, Harry Maguire, earns £189,904 weekly at Old Trafford while midfield star Bruno Fernandes goes home with £180,000 weekly after signing from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020. Juan Mata also banks £160,000 weekly at Old Trafford despite not seeing regular action on the pitch for Manchester United. 

Resurgent left-back, Luke Shaw earns weekly wages of £160,000 but he can be assured of improved earnings when he signs a contract extension. The midfield trio of Fred, Nemanja Matic, and Donny van de Beek all earn £120,000 from their deals with Manchester United. Victor Lindelof also earns £120,000-a-week at Manchester United but that would change soon with the Danish defender set to put pen to paper on a contract extension in the next few weeks. 

Promising goalkeeper, Dean Henderson earns £100,000 weekly for his efforts between the sticks. Henderson is seen as the heir apparent to David de Gea but it is unsure if he'd like to play second-fiddle for long to the considerably young Spanish goalkeeper. Alex Telles (£93,007), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£90,000), and Eric Bailly (£90,000) show the incredible premium that Manchester United puts on its defenders. 

20-year-old breakout star, Mason Greenwood earns £75,000 a week at United, same as experienced campaigners Phil Jones and Jesse Lingard. The later players could be on their last contracts at United while Greenwood is expected to do greater things for United. The 3 least-earning players at United are Diogo Dalot (£25,000), Scott McTominay (£20,000) and academy product Teden Mengi (£600).