A new analysis of Premier League wages has revealed significant pay disparities between players and non-playing staff, with Manchester City topping the list with a player-to-staff pay ratio of 237:1. The findings highlight the stark contrast between the multimillion-pound salaries of top footballers and the comparatively modest wages of support staff at the clubs.
The research, conducted by online casino comparison service KingCasinoBonus, examined wages across Premier League clubs for the 2024/25 season, using data from Glassdoor and Spotrac. The study focused on the average salaries of players versus non-playing staff, which includes roles in customer service, social media, and data analysis, to calculate the pay gap at each club.
Manchester City emerged as the club with the highest wage disparity, with players earning an average of £8.76 million annually, while non-playing staff take home just £36,900 on average. At the top of the salary list for City is midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who earns £20.8 million a year, making him the highest-paid player in the Premier League. In contrast, the average City employee earns 237 times less.
Arsenal ranked second with a pay ratio of 210:1, where the average player earns £7.38 million annually, compared to £35,000 for staff. Arsenal’s highest-paid player, Kai Havertz, receives £14.56 million per year, significantly higher than his teammates’ average wages. Meanwhile, Manchester United secured third place with a pay ratio of 205:1, with players earning £6.46 million annually, compared to £31,500 for staff. Casemiro leads United’s payroll, also earning £18.2 million a year.
Liverpool, ranked fourth, recorded a pay ratio of 172:1. Players at the club earn an average of £5.12 million a year, with non-playing staff earning just under £30,000. The club’s top earner is Mohamed Salah, with an annual salary of £18.2 million. Tottenham Hotspur ranked fifth with a ratio of 133:1. Spurs players take home £4.31 million annually on average, while staff earn around £32,500. Son Heung-min is the highest-paid player at the club, earning £9.88 million.
Teams with the biggest annual player-employee pay gap
| Rank | Team Name | Average Player (£) | Average Non-Player (£) | Ratio |
| 1 | Manchester City | £8,760,870 | £36,958 | 237:1 |
| 2 | Arsenal | £7,378,087 | £35,030 | 210:1 |
| 3 | Manchester United | £6,462,500 | £31,469 | 205:1 |
| 4 | Liverpool | £5,124,167 | £29,782 | 172:1 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | £4,312,750 | £32,469 | 133:1 |
| 6 | Newcastle United | £3,455,429 | £26,151 | 132:1 |
| 7 | Chelsea | £5,683,438 | £43,583 | 130:1 |
| 8 | Aston Villa | £4,472,000 | £34,442 | 129:1 |
| 9 | West Ham United | £4,221,905 | £33,844 | 124:1 |
| 10 | Crystal Palace | £2,866,190 | £29,987 | 95:1 |
Newcastle United came in sixth place, with a pay gap ratio of 132:1, followed by Chelsea at 130:1, Aston Villa at 129:1, West Ham United at 124:1, and Crystal Palace at 95:1, completing the top ten clubs with the biggest wage disparities.
The findings have sparked renewed conversations about the pay structure in professional football. While players are rewarded with large salaries, many of the essential staff members who support the club off the pitch earn significantly less. A spokesperson for KingCasinoBonus commented on the findings:
“The pay gap between Premier League stars and non-playing staff is eye-opening. While footballers command enormous wages, the support staff who play a crucial role in keeping the clubs running receive far lower pay. This imbalance reflects the wider financial dynamics in global football and raises important questions about fairness and compensation in the sport.”
As football continues to generate billions in global revenue, the disparity between player and staff wages is likely to remain a topic of discussion, particularly as football clubs grapple with financial sustainability and fair compensation across the board.
