Softfootball have gathered the top five clubs with the highest player salary commitments for the 2025/2026 season and Al Nassr sit firmly at the top.
The Saudi side lead the ranking with a staggering wage bill of $427.6 million. A major reason is Cristiano Ronaldo’s current contract (2025–2027), which sees him earn a base salary of around $200 million per year (approximately €208 million or £167 million) as well as Iñigo Martínez becoming Cristiano Ronaldo’s teammate after signing Al Nassr contract. That figure alone makes him the highest-paid player in football by base wages.
Here is the full list of the top five clubs by total salary expenditure this season:
- Al Nassr – $427.6M
- Real Madrid – $363.7M
- Al Hilal – $361.8M
- Manchester City – $320.2M
- Bayern Munich – $292.3M
Real Madrid and Al Hilal follow closely behind Al Nassr, showing the financial muscle of both European and Saudi Pro League giants. Manchester City remain the highest-paying Premier League club on the list, while Bayern Munich complete the top five.
Notably, Barcelona do not feature among the top five this season. The Catalan club have significantly reduced their wage structure in recent years as part of financial restructuring efforts.
The numbers highlight the growing financial power of the Saudi Pro League, which now rivals and in some cases surpasses — Europe’s traditional heavyweights in salary spending.
