You know how the old adage goes: money simply makes the world go round – and that is also the case for football clubs across Europe who are looking to sign and, therefore, pay the best footballers in the world as much money as possible. So much so that it is repeatedly used as a bargaining stick when it comes to transfer negotiations.
But, in terms of those competing in the Champions League this term, it's little surprise there is a chasm between what the likes of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are able to cough up in terms of wages and that of Qarabag and Pafos FC, two clubs who are deemed to be among the minnows of the competition.
Historically and theoretically, clubs that have the financial capacity to compete at the highest level of European competition are those that often come out on top in the latter stages of the competition and, therefore, hold the trophy aloft. All 36 teams are now in the swing of things – and SalaryLeaks have provided the figures behind each club's wage bill.
36. Kairat Almaty – £2.6m
Kairat Almaty players before playing Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League
Kickstarting their venture with a 5-0 loss to Real Madrid, Kairat Almaty are among the lowest-ranked teams at Europe's top table this campaign, and it's not much of a surprise to see them at the bottom of the pile. This term, the Kazakhstan Premier League outfit are spending a mere, in comparison, £2.6 million on wages.
35. Pafos – £3.1m
pafos
Having secured the signing of ex-Chelsea and Arsenal defender David Luiz in the summer, Pafos FC are hoping his expertise can see them put some points on the board. In their hopes of doing so, they are reportedly splashing £3.1 million on wages this year.
34. Slavia Prague – £5.4m
slavia prague
Football aside, there are not many more boisterous stadiums than that of Slavia Prague's Fortuna Arena. Losing their curtain raiser 3-0 to Inter Milan will not dampen the mood for those from the Czech capital – a side who spend just £5.4 million on wages.
33. Bodo/Glimt – £6.4m
bodo glimt
Just ahead of Slavia Prague are Bodo/Glimt in 33rd with a figure of £6.4 million spent on player wages. Being back in the big time means that paying their players a little extra is a given – and centre-forward Kasper Hogh, 24, is their highest-earning player.
32. Qarabag – £6.5m
qarabag
Qarabag, as expected, are not far from the bottom of GIVEMESPORT's 2025/26 Champions League Power Rankings – but that's to be expected of a side that have a point to prove in Europe. The founding members of the Azerbaijan Premier League in 1992 are set to spend £6.5 million on wages this season.
31. Union Saint-Gilloise – £9.4m
union saint-gilloise
Paris-born Soufiane Boufal, formerly of Southampton and Angers at the peak of his powers, is currently Union Saint-Gilloise's highest earning player. The side from Belgium outlay £9.4 million and are ranked 31st overall.
30. Copenhagen – £15.2m
copenhagen
By far, the biggest club in Denmark are none other than FC Copenhagen – but, in the grand scheme of things in Europe, their wage bill of £15.2 million is among the lowest. In fact, they are ranked 30th here with Mohamed Elyounoussi being the biggest earner.
29. Olympiacos – £16.3m
olympiacos
One of the most successful clubs in world football by virtue of their ever-growing trophy haul, Olympiacos are a team used to playing in the Champions League. On this list, they aren't as successful – they're 29th given they spend £16.3 million on wages.
28. Club Brugge – £23.3m
Simon Mignolet
A familiar face for Premier League aficionados, goalkeeper Simon Mignolet is back in his homeland and plying his trade for none other than Club Brugge. The 37-year-old, formerly of Liverpool, earns the most of any player in Nicky Hayen's side, who are set to spend £23.3 million altogether.
27. Sporting CP – £27.5m
sporting cp
Spending £27.5 million on player wages this campaign are Sporting CP, who are thriving in the absence of Ruben Amorim in the dugout. The side from Portugal, who pay Francisco Trincao the most, are spending £27.5 million on player wages this season.
26. PSV Eindhoven – £28.1m
PSV Eindhoven manager Peter Bosz pointing
Alassane Plea, formerly of Lyon and Nice, is now leading the line for PSV Eindhoven and he – thanks to his goalscoring prowess – is the club's highest earner. Wanting to establish themselves as one of the Eredivisie's biggest clubs, they spend £28.1 million on wages.
25. Ajax – £28.9m
ajax
From one Dutch outfit to another, Ajax – who were once the dominant side in the Netherlands – have a wage bill of £28.9 million. Ko Itakura, formerly of Manchester City and Borussia Monchengladbach, is their highest earner on £3.4 million per year.
24. Benfica – £35.4m
Anatoliy Trubin in action for Benfica
Of all the talent that SL Benfica have produced over the years, they often move onto bigger and better things. As a result, the Portuguese club have relied on their brilliant scouting practices; that, in turn, keeps their wage bill relatively low. This season, Anatoliy Trubin is their highest-earning player.
23. AS Monaco – £48.2m
Ansu Fati Monaco
Ligue 1 outfit AS Monaco have plenty of big-name players on their books – Ansu Fati and Paul Pogba both spring to mind, but neither are the club's highest earner. That crown belongs to ex-Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich defender Eric Dier, whose take home contributes to their £48.2 million-worth wage bill.
22. Eintracht Frankfurt – £51m
eintracht frankfurt
Although Eintracht Frankfurt lost both Hugo Ekitike and Omar Marmoush in the space of seven months, the German club's clever squad building means they are not missing the sharpshooting duo all too much. Defender Robin Koch is the club's highest earner on £4.4 million per year.
21. Atalanta – £55.4m
atalanta
Atalanta were a dark horse under Gian Piero Gasperini, who is now the manager of AS Roma. The side from Bergamo, who now have Ivan Juric as their boss, are not afraid to splash the cash on wages – but their expenditure of £55.4 million doesn't see them crack the top 20.
20. Villarreal – £56.9m
villarreal
As a club that have enjoyed success in the Europa League, having beaten Manchester United in the 2020/21 final, it's somewhat strange to see Villarreal plying their trade at the top. Nonetheless, they are, and they're paying their players a grand total of £56.9 million.
19. Olympique Marseille – £64.5m
Marseille head coach Roberto De Zerbi on the touchline
Led by former Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi, the Italian has built a Marseille team packed to the brim with very recognisable names – Benjamin Pavard and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang spring to mind. The former is the club's highest earner and their overall wage bill sits at £64.5 million.
18. Bayer Leverkusen – £65.8m
bayer leverkusen
Having recently sacked Erik ten Hag, Bayer Leverkusen will be looking to replicate their success from the 2023/24 campaign under new boss Kasper Hjulmand. Formely of the Denmark national team, he'll have a squad boasting an overall wage bill of £65.8 million to work his magic with.
17. Athletic Club – £66.1m
athletic club
Given that Athletic Club continue to follow their strict Basque Country rule, it's impressive to see them always there or thereabouts in Europe's top two competitions. Nico Williams, who has attracted the interest of Barcelona in windows gone by, earns the most.
16. Galatasaray – £77.6m
victor osimhen
Nigerian hotshot Victor Osimhen is the club's highest-earning player by far – and he repays that by scoring bucketloads of strikes. Altogether, Galatasaray are the Champions League's 16th-highest spenders with an annual wage bill of £77.6 million.
15. Newcastle United – £96.8m
bruno guimaraes
Newcastle United, boosted financially by their ownership, are just inside the Champions League's top 15 highest spenders in regard to player wages. Sought-after midfielder Bruno Guimaraes earns the most, of course, but Joelinton and Anthony Gordon also pocket around the £150,000-per-week mark.
14. Borussia Dortmund – £100.2m
dortmund
Always in the shadow of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund are still Germany's second-biggest club by a country mile and that results in a wealthy wage bill of £100.2 million. Defender Niklas Sule, who pockets £8.7 million per year, earns the most.
13. Napoli – £102.1m
mctominay napoli
With Scott McTominay and Kevin De Bruyne in the side, there is a growing excitement among the Napoli supporters that the unthinkable could become possible. Antonio Conte's go-to line-leader in Romelu Lukaku is the club's highest earner; all in all, the side from southern Italy spend £102.1 million on player wages.
12. Juventus – £105m
Dusan Vlahovic sitting on the bench for Juventus
Once the team to beat in Italy, Juventus' stock among fans and players may have depleted in years gone by – but they are still able to outspend plenty of teams who are in this season's Champions League. The Old Lady, figureheaded by Serbian sharpshooter Dusan Vlahovic, still manage to spend £105 million.
11. Atletico Madrid – £121.5m
Diego Simeone
Atletico Madrid's Diego Simeone has often been scrutinised for his pragmatic approach to football, but they have always remained a mainstay in the Champions League. The Argentine boss is the highest-paid manager in world football and his squad are paid pretty well too. Goalkeeper Jan Oblak is his highest-earning star.
10. Inter Milan – £124m
lautaro martinez inter milan calhanoglu
Just cracking the top ten are last season's Champions League finalists, Inter Milan. Beaten in a record-breaking loss, the Nerazzurri are the highest-spending side from Italy. With their goalscorer-in-chief Lautaro Martinez taking home the most from their squad, their figure stretches to a whopping £124 million.
9. Tottenham Hotspur – £127m
tottenham-1
Plying their trade at the top of Europe by virtue of winning the Europa League final last term, Tottenham Hotspur are now under the fresh stewardship of Thomas Frank. The Danish boss will be looking to build on their previous success, and they'll do so while spending £127 million on player wages.
8. Paris Saint-Germain – £149m
ousmane dembele paris-saint germain
Despite winning Europe's premier competition for the first time in their history last term, Luis Enrique-led Paris Saint-Germain are just the eighth-highest spenders – £149 million – in terms of their wage bill. Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele is the highest earner.
7. Chelsea – £150.4m
enzo maresca
Chelsea, under the ownership of Todd Boehly and Co, have not been afraid to splash the cash on transfer fees, and the same can be said for their wages. The west Londoners are set to cough up just north of £150 million this year, with the out-of-favour Raheem Sterling taking home the most.
6. Liverpool – £155m
Mohamed Salah
Despite being the reigning champions of the Premier League. Arne Slot and Liverpool are the third-highest spending team from England. Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, two of the club's most important players, are the highest earners; the former pockets just shy of £21million per year. The Reds, altogether, will spend £155 million.
5. Arsenal – £178.5m
champions league arsenal
Bukayo Saka may be Arsenal's posterboy – and highest-earner for that matter – but there are a handful of players on the red half of north London who earn big bucks. Keen to win silverware this season, Mikel Arteta's men, who spend more on wages than Liverpool, have a wage bill of £178.5 million.
4. Barcelona – £182.4m
barcelona lamine yamal
Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Frenkie de Jong are all among Barcelona's highest-earners – but none of them earn more than Robert Lewandowski's eye-catching £27 million per year. Altogether, Hansi Flick's serial winners, who are among the favourites to win the competition this year, spend £182.4 million on wages.
3. Manchester City – £194.9m
man city pep guardiola
Manchester City's treble-winning campaign in 2022/23 concluded with them winning the Champions League for the first time. Erling Haaland – who is, for good reason, widely regarded as one of the best strikers in world football – earns around the £26 million mark, which constitutes to their wage bill of £194.9 million.
2. Bayern Munich – £201.7m
harry kane
Harry Kane, Bayern Munich's highest-paid player, will be looking to fire Vincent Kompany and Co to European glory this term with his abundance of strikes. Whether the Bavarians, whose wage bill outlay is £201.7 million, can lift the Champions League remains to be seen.
1. Real Madrid – £247.6m
real madrid mbappe
It's no surprise to see, when you glance over their star-studded squad including the highest earner in the talismanic Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid top the list with £247.6 million spent on wages this year. The likes of David Alaba, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham are also paid handsomely.