Ranked: Premier League’s top five wage bills after Man United finalise paperwork
Manchester United are making significant efforts to cut their costs after announcing their financial results for last season.
Man United smashed their club-record revenue again in 2024-25 after their turnover increased from £661.8million to £666.5m.
That ensures Man United continue to bring in the second-highest revenue in the Premier League behind Manchester City, who are yet to post their latest figures but generated £715m of turnover in 2023-24.
Ruben Amorim’s side remain one of the highest payers when it comes to wage bills in the Premier League despite co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s cost-cutting measures at Old Trafford.
Here are the top five overall wage bills in the Premier League.
5 – Man United (£313m)
Man United released their accounts for 2024-25 on Wednesday (17 September), revealing their wage bill fell from £365m in 2023-24 to £313m last season.
Football Insider revealed on 10 July Ratcliffe is looking to reduce Man United’s wage bill to under £300m this season.
Amorim’s side spent more than £200m on the signings of Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Senne Lammens and Diego Leon in the recent summer transfer window.
However, they managed to get several top earners off the books, with 13 players leaving either permanently or on loan deals.
4 – Arsenal (£328m)
Arsenal have seen their wages increase dramatically over the past couple of years after challenging towards the top of the Premier League table.
The Gunners’ latest published accounts for 2023-24 revealed their wage bill surged from £235m in 2022-23 to £328m.
That figure is likely to increase this season, with multiple big-name signings arriving through the door at the Emirates Stadium in the recent summer transfer window.
3 – Chelsea (£338m)
Chelsea’s wage bill remains relatively high, but they have made efforts to bring it down over the past couple of years.
The Blues’ latest published accounts for 2023-24 revealed their wage bill dropped from £404m in 2022-23 to £338m.
Although Enzo Maresca has been backed with multiple new signings, the club have looked to get some of their top earners off the books in recent transfer windows.
2 – Liverpool (£386m)
Liverpool’s wages have been creeping up in recent years as they continue to reward their star players with well-paid salaries.
The Reds’ wage bill increased from £373m in 2022-23 to a club record £386m in 2023-24.
Liverpool’s wages are expected to have surpassed £400m for the first time last season after claiming the Premier League title under Arne Slot.
It could be even higher this season after the Merseysiders spent £446m on new additions in the recent summer transfer window.
1 – Man City (£413m)
Man City continue to lead the way with the highest wages in the Premier League.
The Manchester giants’ wage bill dropped from £423m in 2022-23 – the year Pep Guardiola’s side won the treble – to £413m in their latest published accounts for 2023-24.
Man City’s wages are typically high as a result of their success on the field over the past few years, with the club paying out significant bonuses to their players.
Their wage bill is likely to have dropped last season after they failed to win a trophy for the first time since the 2016-17 campaign.
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