Football is not only the world’s most popular sport but also one of the most lucrative. Europe’s “Big Five” leagues—La Liga (Spain), the Premier League (England), Serie A (Italy), the Bundesliga (Germany), and Ligue 1 (France)—host the best players from around the globe, offering them substantial salaries. However, pay in these leagues varies significantly depending on the team, the player’s skill level, and the financial resources available within each league.
Let’s dive into what players typically earn across these major leagues, focusing on both average and top-tier salaries.
1. Spain: La Liga
Average Salary: Around €2 million per year.
Top Salaries: €10 million to €40 million per year for the highest-paid stars.
La Liga has long been home to some of football’s most iconic players, partly due to the league’s competitive wages. Clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona offer lucrative salaries to attract and retain world-class talent. While the average La Liga player earns around €2 million annually, top players can make significantly more. For instance, when Lionel Messi played for Barcelona, he reportedly earned over €70 million per season, including bonuses and endorsements.
These high salaries, however, are not uniform across all teams. Smaller clubs in La Liga operate with lower budgets, and many of their players earn considerably less than those in top teams, making La Liga salaries some of the most varied in Europe.
2. England: Premier League
Average Salary: Approximately £3 million per year.
Top Salaries: £10 million to £20 million per year, with top earners exceeding £30 million.
The Premier League is the wealthiest league globally, with the highest average player salary of any football league. This wealth is driven by lucrative broadcasting rights and extensive global reach, allowing even mid-table and lower-tier teams to pay substantial wages. On average, a Premier League player makes about £3 million annually, although salaries can vary widely from team to team.
Top players in England, especially those at Manchester City, Manchester United, and Chelsea, can earn anywhere between £10 million and £20 million annually. Notably, players like Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne have reportedly breached the £20 million mark, underscoring the Premier League’s spending power.
3. Italy: Serie A
Average Salary: Roughly €1.5 million to €2 million per year.
Top Salaries: €7 million to €15 million per year for star players, with a few reaching €20 million.
Serie A offers competitive salaries, particularly for high-profile players in renowned clubs such as Juventus, Inter Milan, and AC Milan. Although Serie A salaries aren’t as high as those in the Premier League or La Liga, Italy remains a sought-after destination for elite players, thanks to its storied clubs and passionate fanbase.
While the average Serie A salary is around €1.5 million to €2 million, star players can earn significantly more. For instance, Juventus famously signed Cristiano Ronaldo on a contract worth over €30 million annually, though most elite players in Serie A earn between €7 million and €15 million.
4. Germany: Bundesliga
Average Salary: Around €1.5 million per year.
Top Salaries: Between €10 million and €20 million for elite players, rarely exceeding €20 million.
The Bundesliga is known for its financial prudence, with clubs like Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund setting a high standard for talent while also maintaining sustainable budgets. While average Bundesliga salaries are lower than those in the Premier League and La Liga, top players are still handsomely compensated.
Players at top clubs like Bayern Munich can earn anywhere between €10 million and €20 million per year. Bundesliga clubs, however, tend to avoid excessively high salaries to maintain financial balance, and few players in the league exceed the €20 million mark.
5. France: Ligue 1
Average Salary: Around €1 million per year.
Top Salaries: €10 million to €50 million per year for top stars, particularly at PSG.
French football is heavily influenced by Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), which offers salaries that far surpass the typical earnings across Ligue 1. The average Ligue 1 salary is around €1 million, yet PSG’s top players, such as Kylian Mbappé, earn more than €40 million annually, making them some of the highest-paid footballers in the world.
However, outside PSG, most Ligue 1 clubs operate with more modest budgets, and players’ salaries are generally lower. This significant gap reflects the league’s financial structure, where PSG’s wealth contrasts sharply with smaller clubs, which operate under tighter financial constraints.
Conclusion
Salaries across Europe’s “Big Five” leagues vary widely based on factors like league wealth, team budgets, and individual skill levels. Here’s a summary of the average and top-tier salaries:
| League | Average Salary | Top Salary |
|---|---|---|
| La Liga | €2 million | €10 million – €40 million |
| Premier League | £3 million | £10 million – £30 million |
| Serie A | €1.5 – €2 million | €7 million – €20 million |
| Bundesliga | €1.5 million | €10 million – €20 million |
| Ligue 1 | €1 million | €10 million – €50 million |
Each league offers unique advantages to players, from the financial powerhouses in the Premier League to the star-focused structure of Ligue 1, creating varied opportunities across Europe. While some players command astronomical wages, most players earn significantly less, though still well above the average salary in many other professions. These salary differences highlight the diversity and financial strategies within European football, offering something for players of all skill levels and ambitions.
