Each Premier League club’s most underpaid player: Diaz, Gallagher, Toney…
Premier League stars are among the highest-paid athletes in the world, but some of them are *relatively* underpaid when compared to what their teammates are earning.
Of course, it goes without saying that we are discussing some vast sums of money here and even those earning less than their teammates are still being well-paid in the grand scheme of things.
But with that being said, we’ve used Capology to search through each Premier League side and have identified their most underpaid player.
Arsenal – Emile Smith Rowe (£40,000 per week)
Injuries have hampered Smith Rowe’s career of late, but there’s no denying his ability. His most prolific campaign came during 2021-22 as he scored 10 league goals and chipped in with a couple of assists.
When compared to the rest of the Arsenal squad, Smith Rowe’s wage of £40,000 per week immediately jumps off the page, especially when the majority of them are making more than £100,000 per week.
"Arsenal – who have looked busy, purposeful and structured – get a goal to show for that in the 12th minute!"
Emile Smith Rowe puts Arsenal in front in the north London derby!
📺 #ARSTOT on Sky Sports PL
📲 https://t.co/AmympGmLP2 pic.twitter.com/VATgEnPW73— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 26, 2021
Aston Villa – Alex Moreno (£35,000 per week)
The Spanish full-back has almost made a full recovery from his hamstring injury and it shouldn’t be long until we see him back in action for Unai Emery’s side.
Moreno made a tremendous impact during the second half of last season and is surely worth more than the £35,000 he is currently being paid. Even Robin Olsen, their backup goalkeeper, is making more with a £50,000 per week wage.
Bournemouth – Antoine Semenyo (£20,000 per week)
Only Dominic Solanke has scored more goals under Andoni Iraola for Bournemouth than Semenyo has. The versatile forward has looked like a tremendous signing from Bristol City and he’s only going to get better.
The average wage for a first-team Bournemouth player is £36,900 which is almost double the amount Semenyo is currently earning. He’ll surely be in line for a new contact soon.
Brentford – Ivan Toney (£20,000 per week)
We can’t quite believe this one either. Toney hasn’t renewed his contract with Brentford since being promoted to the Premier League, so he is still technically earning a Championship wage.
Plenty of top Premier League sides are queuing up to secure his signature in January and he’ll surely be in line for a huge bumper contract soon. Watch this space.
Brighton – Jan Paul van Hecke (£5,000 per week)
The Brighton defender ranks among the lowest-paid players in the Premier League. While Van Hecke isn’t the first name on the team sheet, he’s probably deserving of a wage increase.
Several players playing in League One earn more than the £5,000 per week that Van Hecke is currently being paid which puts his current earnings into context.
Burnley – Jordan Beyer (£3,000 per week)
Surely this one is a glitch in the system? According to Capology, Beyer is earning just £3,000 per week which seems ridiculously low for someone who has played a key role under Vincent Kompany.
Chelsea – Conor Gallagher (£50,000 per week)
The Chelsea midfielder has established himself as a key player under Mauricio Pochettino and could be in line for a new contract if he continues to perform.
Considering Gallagher has started in all 12 Premier League matches for Chelsea this season, his weekly wage of £50,000 per week does seem relatively low when compared to Chelsea’s other starters.
"There's a lot of things you don't see"
Frank Lampard with nothing but praise for Conor Gallagher 👏 pic.twitter.com/lFwDbbVlM8
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 2, 2023
Crystal Palace – Tyrick Mitchell (£40,000 per week)
Mitchell has started in every Premier League game for Palace this season, but his wages don’t quite reflect that. In the Crystal Palace squad, 15 players currently earn more than Mitchell.
Everton – Dwight McNeil (£25,000 per week)
The 23-year-old has continued to develop nicely since arriving from Burnley and will surely be in line for a wage bump soon. The average weekly wage at Everton is £63,300 which is far more than the £25,000 McNeil is receiving.
Fulham – Tim Ream (£30,000 per week)
The veteran United States defender played a key role in Fulham re-establishing themselves as a top-flight club last season. Ream has racked up over 300 appearances for the club and yet he ranks as one of their lowest-paid players.
Fifteen first-team players earn more than Ream according to Capology and we’d say that puts him into the underpaid category. Especially considering he has started in 11 of their 12 games so far.
Liverpool – Luis Diaz (£55,000 per week)
Of course, £55,000 per week is hardly chump change, but it is considerably less than some of Liverpool’s other stars. Diaz has proven himself to be a top performer at this level and should be due a wage increase soon enough.
To put his wage at Liverpool into context, Adrian is reportedly earning himself £60,000 per week to sit on the bench.
Can you BELIEVE it?!
Luis Diaz comes off the bench and equalises for Liverpool in the 95th minute! 💪🔴 pic.twitter.com/Vd2KnMaV58
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 5, 2023
Luton Town – Alfie Doughty (£7,500 per week)
Compared to the rest of the Premier League, you can make the argument that every player in the Luton squad is underpaid. Dependable full-back Doughty is probably the first player that jumps off the page with his weekly wage of £7,500.
Only eight players have created more chances than Doughty has in the Premier League this season (25) which is mightily impressive.
Manchester City – Rico Lewis (£25,000 per week)
It’s no surprise that the vast majority of the Man City squad is incredibly well-paid, although Lewis is probably in line for a wage increase soon enough.
The academy prospect has come on leaps and bounds over the last 18 months and he doesn’t look out of place next to the superstars he plays alongside.
His talents have recently been recognised by Gareth Southgate too who called Lewis up to the latest England squad. The future looks incredibly bright for the 18-year-old.
Manchester United – Hannibal Mejbri (£5,000 per week)
While you could make the argument that plenty of United’s stars are overpaid, that simply cannot apply to Hannibal. The tenacious midfielder is the lowest-paid player in the United squad by some distance.
His contract at Old Trafford is set to expire in the summer, although the club does hold the option of extending it by a further year. Time will tell if his long-term future is with United.
Newcastle – Callum Wilson (£46,000 per week)
Somehow 15 Newcastle players manage to earn more than Wilson according to Capology. His minutes have to be managed these days but his goalscoring instincts are still as sharp as ever.
This season in the Premier League he has averaged a goal every 68.7 minutes which is an astonishing return. For just £46,000 per week, Newcastle have got one hell of a striker on their hands.
Nottingham Forest – Anthony Elanga (£25,000 per week)
The Swedish winger has been a hit at the City Ground so far and we think he’ll be in line for a wage increase soon enough. Elanga already has five goal contributions this season and looks like a player reborn in a Nottingham Forest shirt.
IT'S A BRILLIANT GOAL 😍
Ola Aina 🔗 Anthony Elanga pic.twitter.com/1Pzcr3cQAw
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 12, 2023
Sheffield United – Wes Foderingham (£12,500 per week)
Foderingham has made more saves than any Premier League goalkeeper this season and he is also one of the lowest-paid in his position when compared to the rest of the league.
Even at Sheffield United, there are 22 players who currently earn more than Foderingham which seems excessive when the 32-year-old is one of the first names on the team sheet.
Tottenham – Pape Matar Sarr (£10,000 per week)
The Senegalese midfielder has come on leaps and bounds under Ange Postecoglou. Sarr has featured in all 12 of Tottenham’s Premier League matches so far and he has made quite the impression.
We’re in no doubt that Sarr will be in line for a big contract later down the line, especially if he continues to develop at his current rate.
West Ham – Vladimir Coufal (£35,000 per week)
The average weekly wage at West Ham is £72,300 which is more than double what Coufal is currently earning. Throughout the last three and a half seasons Coufal has been a consistent performer for the Hammers and is probably deserving of a wage increase.
Wolves – Rayan Ait-Nouri (£10,000 per week)
The 22-year-old has been a regular starter under Gary O’Neil and is surely worthy of a wage of more than £10,000 per week. The average weekly wage at Wolves is £36,700 which is considerably more than Ait-Nouri’s wage.
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