Since its inception in 1992, the Premier League has grown into the biggest football league in Europe. The English top flight has seen a massive rise in commercial revenue, which now sets their clubs apart from the rest of Europe in terms of monetary capabilities. In addition, players have also been offered massive salaries over the years.
And the numbers have only been getting higher over the years, with Manchester United and City players dominating the list of the highest earners in every Premier League season over the last 31 years.
All 31 Premier League season’s highest earners revealed
- 1992-93: John Barnes – £10,000-a-week
- 1993-94: John Barnes – £10,000-a-week
- 1994-95: Eric Cantona – £18,000-a-week
- 1995-96: Dennis Bergkamp – £25,000-a-week
- 1996-97: Fabrizio Ravanelli – £42,000-a-week
- 1997-98: Alan Shearer – £34,000-a-week
- 1998-99: Alan Shearer – £34,000-a-week
- 1999-00: Roy Keane – £52,000-a-week
- 2000-01: Roy Keane – £52,000-a-week
- 2001-02: Roy Keane – £90,000-a-week
- 2002-03: Roy Keane – £94,000-a-week
- 2003-04: Hernan Crespo – £94,000-a-week
- 2004-05: Frank Lampard – £98,000-a-week
- 2005-06: Steven Gerrard – £100,000-a-week
- 2006-07: Andriy Shevchenko – £118,000-a-week
- 2007-08: John Terry – £135,000-a-week
- 2008-09: Robinho – £160,000-a-week
- 2009-10: Carlos Tevez – £250,000-a-week
- 2010-11: Carlos Tevez – £250,000-a-week
- 2011-12: Carlos Tevez – £250,000-a-week
- 2012-13: Carlos Tevez – £250,000-a-week
- 2013-14: Wayne Rooney – £300,000-a-week
- 2014-15: Wayne Rooney – £300,000-a-week
- 2015-16: Wayne Rooney – £300,000-a-week
- 2016-17: Wayne Rooney – £300,000-a-week
- 2017-18: Alexis Sanchez – £350,000-a-week
- 2018-19: Alexis Sanchez – £350,000-a-week
- 2019-20: David de Gea – £375,000-a-week
- 2020-21: Gareth Bale – £560,000-a-week (majority paid by Real Madrid)
- 2021-22: Cristiano Ronaldo – £480,000-a-week
- 2022-23: Erling Haaland – £865,000-a-week
- 2023-24: Erling Haaland – £865,000-a-week
Liverpool forward John Barnes started off earning £10,000 per week in 1992, which was the highest at the time. His earnings were overshadowed two years later by Manchester United legend Eric Cantona, earning £18,000 a week, followed by Dennis Bergkamp who earned £25,000 a week.
The Premier League’s all-time highest goalscorer Alan Shearer was the top earner for two seasons, earning £34,000 per week. Manchester United then handed Roy Keane a £52,000 per week contract that was eventually doubled to £94,000.
In 2003, Roman Abramovich’s arrival at Chelsea brought in a new era, with Hernan Crespo becoming the highest earner in 03/04, followed by club icon Frank Lampard.
Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard was the top earner in 05/06 and the first one to earn £100,000 a week. Chelsea continued to spend big, handing John Terry and Andriy Shevchenko two massive deals, before Robinho crossed the £150,000 mark.
Then arrived Manchester City, fresh off their Middle Eastern takeover. They offered Carlos Teves a £250,000 deal at the time, which was the record for four years. It was overcome only by Wayne Rooney, whose £300,000 deal was the highest for another four years.
Alexis Sanchez then signed a £350,000 contract even though things didn’t work out for him at United, before David De Gea signed his £375,000 deal. Gareth Bale returned to Tottenham on loan in 2020/21 and earned a combined £560,000 which was mostly paid by Real Madrid.
In 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Manchester United to earn a huge £480,000 per year deal. But only a year later, Erling Haaland joined Manchester City and has been the highest earner in the Premier League for the last two seasons, being paid £865,000 per week.
And with the way things are going, it seems only a matter of a few years before someone starts earning a million pounds a week, shattering the all-time record.
