Despite only managing to complete 90 Premier League minutes three times this season due to injuries, Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus is out-earning every Chelsea player.
The Blues have made headlines for having the most expensive squad in football history, valued at £1.4billion. However, their wage bill doesn't quite match their squad value.
There's a difference between the salaries at Enzo Maresca's Chelsea and Mikel Arteta's Arsenal, evident in Jesus' pay packet. The former Manchester City forward is paid handsomely, but his season has been marred by injuries.
He's often found himself behind Havertz, who's also out for the rest of the season after undergoing hamstring surgery, in the pecking order. Yet, if he were at Stamford Bridge, he would be the top earner.
As per Spotrac, Jesus rakes in an impressive £13.78m annually, translating to a weekly wage of £265,000. Only Havertz, who switched from Chelsea to Arsenal in the summer of 2023 for £65m, earns more than Jesus, reports the Mirror.
His earnings surpass those of any Chelsea player. Reece James, the Blues' captain, comes closest with a weekly wage of £250,000, amounting to an annual salary of £13m.
The staggering statistics become even more disheartening for Arsenal supporters when they consider that Jesus has only managed to play a full 90 minutes three times this season.
His first complete Premier League match was during the 3-0 home triumph over Nottingham Forest in November.
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 12: Gabriel Jesus of Arsenal leaves the pitch on a stretcher during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Arsenal and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on January 12, 2025 in London, England. Arsenal are playing in a special all-white kit for today's FA Cup third-round tie as part of their ‘No More Red’ initiative which was launched in collaboration with Adidas in 2022 to keep young people safe from knife crime. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Jesus' season ended in the FA Cup third round defeat to Manchester United (Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Before a cruciate ligament tear prematurely ended his season, Jesus seemed to have won over Arteta, with the Spanish manager fielding him for the entirety of the 3-1 away win against Brentford and the 1-1 stalemate at Brighton and Hove Albion.
Prior to his injury, Jesus had netted seven goals and provided two assists in 27 appearances, with just 13 of those as part of the starting line-up. These figures underscore Arsenal's decision-making process regarding their attacking personnel.
Injury woes have marred Arsenal's season, with Jesus, Havertz and Bukayo Saka all suffering long-term setbacks. In the January transfer window, Arsenal were rumoured to be eyeing Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko, but no deal materialised.
Reece James of Chelsea acknowledges the fans after the UEFA Conference League 2024/25 Round of 16 First Leg match between F.C. Copenhagen and Chelsea FC at Parken Stadium on March 06, 2025 in Copenhagen, Denmark
Reece James is reportedly Chelsea's highest earner (Image: Getty Images)
The title race appears to be all but decided, with Liverpool's win over Southampton extending their lead at the top of the Premier League to 15 points. The sole consolation in an otherwise frustrating campaign is Arsenal's continued presence in the Champions League.
On the other hand, Chelsea are locked in a tight battle for a top-four finish, holding a slender two-point advantage over fifth-placed Manchester City.
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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