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The Highest-Paid Premier League Defenders

  • Virgil Van Dijk is the highest-paid, earning $24 million a year.
  • Manchester City features five defenders among the highest-paid.
Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

Premier League clubs are worth over $1 billion because of elite players and captivating matches.  Although attackers get the most fanfare and highest pay, Premier League defenders can earn substantial wages for stopping skillful attackers from scoring.

The highest-paid Premier League defenders earn well over $15 million a year.

Topping the list is Virgil Van Dijk of Liverpool earning $24 million. The captain of the Dutch national team and Liverpool signed a 2-year, $48 million deal in April after much speculation of his future at the club.

Two players are tied for second: Reece James of Chelsea and John Stones of Manchester City. Both players bring in $17.2 million.

James has been with Chelsea for all but one year of his career. He won the 2021 Champion’s League title with them. Stones signed a 3-year deal in 2021 that brought him to Manchester City from Everton.

Two players share the fourth spot, earning $13.7 million a year: Joško Gvardiol of Manchester City and Wesley Fofana of Chelsea.

Gvardiol signed a deal with Manchester City in 2023. He’ll make $52 million with them over five years. Chelsea acquired Fofana midway through the 2022-2023 season for a 6-year, $62.4 million deal. 

Even though Chelsea has two defenders among the top five highest-paid, Manchester City has the most of any club with five in the top 15.

Ranking The Highest-Paid Defenders in The Premier League

Here is the entire list of the highest-paid Premier League defenders. The list was compiled with data from Capology.

  • Updated: April 18, 2025
RankPlayerTeamTotal Compensation
1Virgil van DijkLiverpool$24 million
T-2Reece JamesChelsea$17.2 million
T-2John StonesManchester City$17.2 million
T-4Joško GvardiolManchester City$13.7 million
T-4Wesley FofanaChelsea$13.7 million
6Matthijs de LigtManchester United$13.4 million
T-7Harry MaguireManchester United$13.1 million
T-7William SalibaArsenal$13.1 million
T-9Trent Alexander-ArnoldLiverpool$12.4 million
T-9Rúben DiasManchester City$12.4 million
T-9Manuel AkanjiManchester City$12.4 million
12Marc CucurellaChelsea$12 million
13Cristian RomeroTottenham$11.3 million
T-14Andy RobertsonLiverpool$10.99 million
T-14Nathan AkéManchester City$10.99 million
T-16Ben WhiteArsenal$10.3 million
T-16Luke ShawManchester United$10.3 million
T-16Oleksandr ZinchenkoArsenal$10.3 million
19Noussair MazarouiManchester United$9.3 million
T-20Tosin AdarabioyoChelsea$8.2 million
T-20Lucas DigneAston Villa$8.2 million
T-20Victor LindelöfManchester United$8.2 million
T-20Lisandro MartinezManchester United$8.2 million
T-20Kieran TrippierNewcastle United$8.2 million
T-20Riccardo CalafioriArsenal$8.2 million

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