The 6 players in Europe who will earn more than Wirtz after he signs bumper Liverpool deal

 

The 6 players in Europe who will earn more than Wirtz after he signs bumper Liverpool deal Florian Wirtz is set to become one of the highest-paid footballers in Europe as he prepares to join Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in a blockbuster £127million transfer. The 22-year-old is reportedly set to sign a five-year contract with the Reds, earning a staggering £355,000 per week. Using data from Capology, we’ve identified the six players across Europe who are projected to earn more than Wirtz during the 2025–26 season:

6. David Alaba – £365,000 per week

Signed from Bayern Munich on a free transfer in 2021, David Alaba remains the highest-paid defender in Europe. Now entering the final year of his lucrative Real Madrid deal, the Austrian is set to earn another £18.9 million during the 2025–26 season.

5. Mohamed Salah – £400,000 per week Florian Wirtz may be among the top earners in the Premier League soon, but he won’t surpass Mohamed Salah, who still tops Liverpool’s wage bill. The Egyptian star signed a new contract with the Reds last month, locking in a weekly wage of £400,000. After delivering 57 goal contributions across all competitions last season, few would argue he isn't worth it. Fans are already anticipating his link-up with Wirtz next season.

4. Harry Kane – £405,000 per week While Wirtz was earning just £73,000 a week in the Bundesliga, his new teammate Harry Kane is on a much loftier wage at Bayern Munich. As the club’s record signing, Kane is pulling in £405,000 per week. With 82 goals over two seasons, he’s earned roughly £42 million in that time—equating to around £512,000 per goal.

3. Kylian Mbappe – £507,000 per week Although his base salary at Real Madrid is £507,000 per week, Kylian Mbappe’s overall earnings are much higher when you factor in his enormous signing bonus. The French superstar actually took a pay cut to join Los Blancos, having earned over £1.1 million weekly at PSG. Despite Real’s recent success, Mbappe might occasionally reflect on what he left behind but financially, he’s still doing just fine.

2. Erling Haaland – £525,000 per week Erling Haaland became the highest-paid Premier League player after signing a massive nine-and-a-half-year deal with Manchester City. As Pep Guardiola put it, such a contract shows the Norwegian’s commitment to the club. By the end of his deal in 2034, Haaland will have earned more than £240 million—excluding bonuses.

1. Robert Lewandowski – £541,000 per week At 36, Robert Lewandowski continues to shine for Barcelona and currently holds the title of Europe’s highest-paid player. He earns £541,000 per week, amounting to approximately £28 million per year. With at least one year left on his contract and the option for another Barcelona will be hoping the Polish striker keeps delivering at elite levels.

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