Premier League teams with the biggest annual pay gap between players and staff
A new analysis of Premier League clubs reveals the biggest pay gaps between players and staff, with Manchester City having the largest ratio at 237:1.
The research, carried out by the online casino comparison service KingCasinoBonus, analysed player and staff wages, including positions in customer service, social media, and analysts, across Premier League clubs for the 2024/25 season. Excluding loan players, the study used data from Glassdoor and Spotrac, calculating wage ratios for each team and highlighting the highest-earning players.
Manchester City has the highest player-to-staff pay ratio in the Premier League, at a staggering 237:1, based on an analysis of 164 Glassdoor salaries. On average, a Manchester City player earns £8.76m annually, while non-playing staff receive just £36,900. Kevin De Bruyne leads the team with a salary of £20.8m per year, making him the highest-paid player in the Premier League.
Teams with the biggest annual player-employee pay gap
| Rank | Team Name | Average Player (£) | Average Non-Player (£) | Ratio |
| 1 | Manchester City | £8,760,870 | £36,958 | 237:1 |
| 2 | Arsenal | £7,378,087 | £35,030 | 210:1 |
| 3 | Manchester United | £6,462,500 | £31,469 | 205:1 |
| 4 | Liverpool | £5,124,167 | £29,782 | 172:1 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | £4,312,750 | £32,469 | 133:1 |
| 6 | Newcastle United | £3,455,429 | £26,151 | 132:1 |
| 7 | Chelsea | £5,683,438 | £43,583 | 130:1 |
| 8 | Aston Villa | £4,472,000 | £34,442 | 129:1 |
| 9 | West Ham United | £4,221,905 | £33,844 | 124:1 |
| 10 | Crystal Palace | £2,866,190 | £29,987 | 95:1 |
According to 318 Glassdoor submissions, Arsenal has the second-largest player-to-staff pay ratio in the Premier League at 210:1. The highest-paid player, Kai Havertz, receives £14.56m annually, nearly double the average Arsenal player’s salary of £7.38m. In contrast, the average staff member earns just £35,000 per year – 97.3% less than their on-field counterparts.
On the other side of Manchester, Manchester United has the third-largest player-to-staff pay ratio at 205:1. Over 540 Glassdoor salaries revealed that the average player earns £6.46m annually. In comparison, the average staff member takes home just £31,500. Casemiro, the highest-paid player at Manchester United, leads with a salary of £18.2m per year.
Liverpool has the fourth-highest ratio at 172:1, where players earn an average of £5.12m, and staff earn £29,800. The highest-paid player is Mohamed Salah, who earns £18.2m, matching Casemiro.
Tottenham Hotspur has a ratio of 133:1, with players earning approximately £4.31m per annum and staff earning £32,500. The highest-paid player is Son Heung-min at £9.88m.
The final rankings show Newcastle United in sixth place with a pay ratio of 132:1. Chelsea in seventh with a ratio of 130:1, Aston Villa in eighth with a ratio of 129:1, West Ham United in ninth with a ratio of 124:1, and Crystal Palace in tenth with a ratio of 95:1.
Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson for KingCasinoBonus said: “The disparity in pay between Premier League stars and regular staff is stark. While top players receive incredible salaries, the support staff – essential yet often underappreciated – receive a fraction.
This gulf highlights the extreme financial dynamics of global football, where a few month’s wages for one player can equate to the annual salaries of numerous staff members. Such imbalances provoke necessary conversations about fairness and the value placed on those who keep the wheels turning behind the scenes. As football continues to thrive on global entertainment and massive revenues, it’s crucial to recognise fair compensation.”
