The Championship has rapidly caught up with a number of leagues across Europe in terms of quality and financial power in recent years, as English football as a whole continues its ascent towards becoming the powerhouse of the club game.

With the likes of West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers dropping into the second tier for the 2026/27 season, clubs with recent history in European competition will now compete for promotion, highlighting just how competitive the division has become.

Wage bills for the top teams now compare with mid-table sides in La Liga, Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga, while attendances and overall revenue generated by clubs in the Championship also match those in these top five leagues.

With that said, here’s a look at the top 25 highest-paid players in England’s second division, heading into the 2026/27 campaign.

25-11

Unsurprisingly, West Ham and Wolves dominate the rankings when it comes to the highest-paid players in the second tier, and many would argue this gives them little excuse not to win promotion at the first attempt.

In fact, one of the four players in the entire top 25 who doesn’t play for either of these clubs comes in at joint 23rd on £55,000 per week. Burnley’s midfield maestro Josh Cullen earns this healthy wage, alongside Wolves star Boubacar Traore and Hammers full-back Kyle Walker-Peters.

James Ward-Prowse, who looks likely to remain at the London Stadium and ply his trade for a full season outside of the top flight for the first time in his career, currently takes home £57,000 every seven days. Jose Sa earns slightly more than the free-kick specialist, on £60,000 per week, while the Portuguese’s trio of teammates, Jackson Tchatchoua, Adam Armstrong and Andre Trindade, can all celebrate £65,000-a-week contracts.

West Ham’s forgotten man, Maxwel Cornet, who has seemingly returned to play for the Hammers in the Championship, also takes home £65,000 every week, while Wolves duo Hee-chan Hwang and Marshall Munetsi earn £70,000.

Manchester City legend and former England international Kyle Walker is surprisingly not among the top ten most highly-paid players in the Championship this season. Had he opted to play for Wolves or West Ham, he might’ve been, but the more economically prudent Burnley only have the veteran on a £75,000-a-week deal, a sum Haitian World Cup star Jean-Ricner Bellegarde also earns.

The Irons’ new striker, Valentin Castellanos, also earns £75,000-a-week, while one of Wolves’ few remaining Portuguese stars, Toti Gomes, hits the £80,000-a-week mark.

10

Jean-Clair Todibo

When West Ham secured the signing of Jean-Clair Todibo, it was viewed as a bit of a pull. The Frenchman had been mooted as a target for Manchester United for some time, but ultimately ended up joining the Hammers in a £33 million deal. Two years on, and he hasn’t exactly justified the hype with his performances, despite his hefty £80,000-a-week wage.

9

Niclas Fullkrug

Niclas Fullkrug’s switch to West Ham has been a catastrophic disaster. Scoring just three goals in his 29 appearances for the Hammers, his £90,000 weekly wage now sees the east London club stuck with him. Prospective suitors aren’t willing to pay the German what he wants, and thus, it looks somewhat likely that he’ll be a second-division player next season.

8

Aaron Wan-Bissaka

West Ham’s wage bill might be a concern given how much their revenues are likely to be damaged by dropping down into the Championship. Aaron Wan-Bissaka is another on £90,000-a-week, although the full-back has certainly justified this salary more than his German counterpart. He may not end the summer a West Ham player, however, with Aston Villa linked with a move for the DR Congo international.

7

Tomas Soucek

Long-term West Ham servant, Tomas Soucek, looks set to remain a West Ham player for the foreseeable future, despite the club’s relegation. Nuno Espirito Santo will hope the Czech’s experience and ability to pop up with a goal will prove useful in the Championship. The 31-year-old is currently earning £90,000 per week.

6

Edson Alvarez

Edson Alvarez returns to West Ham after the excitement of playing in Istanbul and at the World Cup to play away at Lincoln City this season. The Mexican has arguably underwhelmed since his highly anticipated switch from Ajax, and he certainly hasn’t justified the astronomical contract the Hammers have handed him; he takes home £100,000-a-week, becoming the first player on this list to break the six-figure mark.

5

Max Kilman

Joining Alvarez in the £100k club is Max Kilman. West Ham’s domination of the highest-paid players in the Championship ranking continues with their English centre-back, who is another who has certainly failed to live up to what was expected from him when he made the move from Wolves. He likely thought this switch from the West Midlands to East London would elevate his profile, but he’ll now be competing with his former club for promotion back to the top flight.

4

Aaron Ramsdale

One of the four non-West Ham or Wolves players in the top 25, Aaron Ramsdale returns to Southampton after his loan at Newcastle as by far the most affluent employee at St. Mary’s. His £120,00-a-week contract is a legacy from his Arsenal days, putting him in this wage bracket when he established himself as the number one at the Emirates.

3

Alphonse Areola

Surprisingly, another goalkeeper makes the top five. Unsurprisingly, the player in question previously played for a top European club, which explains how he’s been able to earn £120,000 a week for a side that now operates in the Championship. Alphonse Areola, who had a lengthy stint at Paris Saint-Germain earlier in his career, is still at West Ham, although he could leave before the end of the window.

2

Kalvin Phillips

via Reuters

Like Ramsdale and Areola, Kalvin Phillips is extremely well paid due to the wealth of a club he has played for. Unlike the two shot-stoppers, the Sheffield United loanee is still technically on the books of said club, with his contract at Manchester City remarkably still two years away from expiring. While no longer at the peak of his powers, he still has plenty to offer at Championship level, but has found it difficult to find a new permanent home due to his astronomical £7.8 million per year (£150,000-a-week) salary.

1

Jarrod Bowen

via Reuters

Unlike many of the top Championship earners, Jarrod Bowen’s wages are fully justified. The West Ham captain earns £150,000 every seven days, and has shown immense loyalty in his decision to remain with the Hammers when he could’ve chosen to ply his trade at a Premier League club, possibly even for more money than this.

Wage information via Capology and PlanetFootball – correct as of 14/08/2026.

Ben Jacobs has explained why Liverpool have been handed a massive boost in their pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola.

The French winger has been the Reds’ top target for several months and he is keen on a move to Anfield. Andoni Iraola wants a new winger added to his squad and the Parisian attacker fits the bill with his pacey and tricky profile.

Liverpool has yet to agree on a deal with PSG for Barcola, who has been one of Luis Enrique’s most influential forwards in recent seasons. The Ligue 1 giants may be more open to allowing the 23-year-old to head to Merseyside amid recent business conducted at the Parc des Princes.

Liverpool’s Barcola Waiting Game Pays Off

Paul Childs via Reuters

There is a chance that others are looking to beat Liverpool to Barcola, including Arsenal, who admire him and view him as a Vinicius Junior alternative. Iraola’s transfer chiefs have been playing a waiting game, and their patience may now pay off.

Jacobs gave an update on Barcola’s situation and confirmed the player is sold on a move to Anfield, where there is confidence he is prioritizing them. He said on the latest episode of GIVEMESPORT’s Market Madness podcast:

PSG are closing in on three new signings and Jacobs explained how this could pave the way for Barcola to depart:

Barcola is one of Europe’s most highly-admired attackers who impressed at this summer’s World Cup as well as throughout last season with PSG. He is a player who has been on Liverpool’s wishlist in the past, including last year, although the Reds decided against a move then.

With the Frenchman clearly ready to join and PSG having made additions to Enrique’s attack, a potential deal looks increasingly likely. It’s just whether the Anfield chiefs can lower the asking price, given €170 million (£145m) is a lot of money after forking out over £100m twice last summer for Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz.

Barcola Has Always Been The Best Option

Reuters/Sam Navarro

Barcola is a special talent who could become a talisman at Liverpool, taking over from Mohamed Salah following the Egyptian winger’s exit. When the likes of Morgan Rogers are moving for £117m, PSG are well within their rights to demand a similar fee.

The Reds’ top target at the start of the window was Yan Diomande but he ended up at Real Madrid after previously prioritising a move to the Parc des Princes. At that time, Barcola felt he was the better option for Iraola, given his experience and the likelihood of him making an immediate impact.

Liverpool transfer targets

• Bradley Barcola
• Ibrahim Mbaye
• Ezri Konsa
• Adam Wharton

With the Premier League starting in just over a week, the Kop will be eager for the club to seal a deal for Barcola. It’s been a somewhat underwhelming summer thus far but his arrival changes the game.

Ben Jacobs has revealed Arsenal‘s thoughts on signing either Victor Osimhen or Julian Alvarez before the summer transfer window closes.

The Premier League champions failed to pull off the blockbuster signing of Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid. The Brazilian put pen to paper on a new long-term deal with the La Liga giants.

A new attacker is still expected to join Mikel Arteta’s side and Alvarez has been on the club’s radar for many months. The Atletico Madrid forward has publicly confirmed he wants a new challenge, and Barcelona have also been eyeing the Argentine.

With Atleti playing hardball over Alvarez, Osimhen has emerged as a potential option for the Gunners. The Nigerian is currently at Galatasaray in the Turkish Super Lig but has previously been linked with a move to the Premier League.

Jacobs on Arsenal Eyeing Osimhen and Alvarez

via Reuters

Arsenal only signed a new number nine last summer when they forked out £55 million on Viktor Gyokeres. While a new left-winger has been a priority, it seems Arteta is prepared to swoop for a marquee centre-forward amid links with Alvarez and Osimhen.

Jacobs has given an update on the North Londoners’ transfer plans while speaking on the latest episode of GIVEMESPORT’s Market Madness podcast. He revealed that talks between the English club and Galatasaray had taken place over Ethan Nwaneri, but the young English winger isn’t keen on the move.

Osimhen’s name also came up, but Jacobs has insisted there are several stumbling blocks preventing a move for the former Napoli frontman:

Jacobs reckons Arsenal prefer Alvarez over the likes of Osimhen but are waiting to see if Atleti eventually agree to let him leave:

He added:

Arsenal transfer targets

Alvarez has been at the Riyadh Metropolitano since August 2024, when he left Manchester City for the Spanish giants in a £82 million deal. The Argentine has been in red-hot form under Diego Simeone, finishing last season with 20 goals in 49 games across competitions.

The 2022 World Cup winner has seemed eager to join Barca, but a move to Arsenal will appeal. He’d get the chance to prove he deserved more prominence under Pep Guardiola and return to the Premier League, where he may feel he has unfinished business.

Alvarez Makes More Sense Than Osimhen

via Reuters

Arsenal know what they are getting from Alvarez, having faced him in the Premier League previously. He left City to take up a talisman role at Atleti, which wasn’t on offer at the Etihad due to Erling Haaland’s arrival.

The 26-year-old, dubbed “the best player in the world” by Fernando Torres, has developed into one of Europe’s most highly-rated attackers, and unlike Osimhen, he has a more versatile profile. That might be something Arteta and Andrea Berta take under consideration, as they ideally still want a left-winger, and he is capable of playing out wide and as a second striker.

Osimhen is the better goalscorer and a more traditional number nine who could be an ideal choice to lead the line at the Emirates. But if the Gunners were going to sign the Nigerian, it would have made more sense to swoop last summer and prioritise him over Gyokeres rather than move this time around when you’ve already signed a marksman.