Arsenal spent a huge amount of money on player wages, figures show, but that figure is only expected to rise further
07:00, 09 Jul 2026
Stan Kroenke and John Kroenke with the Premier League trophy
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Stan Kroenke and John Kroenke with the Premier League trophy (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images For Premier League)
Arsenal spent just under £347million on player wages in the year ending May 2025, latest data shows. The figures show the Gunners also generated more than £690million in revenue in the same financial year as Mikel Arteta's side continue to compete financially with the Premier League's biggest clubs.
The data shows what Arsenal's finances looked like straight after the 2024/25 season. The Gunners finished second to Liverpool in the league and also reached the Champions League semi-finals.
According to the Deloitte Annual Review of Football Finance 2026, which was published on Wednesday, Arsenal generated £690.8m in revenue in the year ending May 2025, up from £612.7m the previous year.
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The club spent £346.8m on player wages in the year ending May 2025, up from £327.8m in the year ending May 2024. These wages would have increased partly due to player incomings, with David Raya, Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino all arriving in the summer of 2024. Neto and Raheem Sterling also arrived on loan.
Some big names did depart that same summer though which would of helped to balance the books, with Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah and Aaron Ramsdale the most high profile to leave. The club did not sign anyone in the January window of the 2024/25 season.
When compared to clubs in the Premier League, Arsenal were the fourth highest spenders when it came to wages in the year ending May 2025. Liverpool (£428m), Man City (£408m) and Chelsea (£359m) paid more in player wages when compared to Arsenal.
Arsenal's wage bill for the year ending May 2026 will likely increase substantially, however. The club signed Kepa Arrizabalaga, Eberechi Eze, Viktor Gyokeres, Piero Hincapie (loan but now permanent), Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera, Christian Norgaard and Martin Zubimendi in the 2025 summer window. Their wages will all be included as part of the next financial year.
Spending is not expected to stop either with Arsenal keen to strengthen this summer, football.london understands, as the club looks to build on their first Premier League title win in 22 years. Sporting director Andrea Berta is already hard at work behind the scenes and wants to bring in a new full-back, midfielder and attacker in the coming weeks and months.
Arsenal owners Stan Kroenke and Josh Kroenke hinted it would be another busy summer when addressing fans in their end of season programme notes in May. They said: “We will give everything we’ve got to win major trophies.
“And you can rest assured that everyone at the club will continue the hard work to make the coming weeks unforgettable. We couldn’t have reached this point without the incredible support and backing you have given us once again, and we know you will create another electric atmosphere here tonight.
“The connection we feel with our supporters fills us with pride. Between us, we are building something very special and, wherever this month of May takes us, there will be no standing still when the season ends.”
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