The world’s biggest soccer clubs are now valued in the billions, as top players captivate fans worldwide. Offenses have continued to improve in speed, spacing, and sophisitication, so clubs pay high wages to defenders who can slow down the best attackers.
The highest-paid soccer defenders earn more than some strikers and midfielders.
Kalidou Koulibaly is the highest-paid defender in 2024. He makes $34.7 million annually playing for Al Hilal.
Koulibaly signed a 3-year deal in 2023 that will net him a total of $104.1 million to play in the Saudi Pro League. He spent most of his career in Italy, completing 288 career tackles. Koulibaly led Al Hilal to an unbeaten record and a championship in his first season.
Aymeric Laporte is second on the list, earning $24.5 million per year. The Al Nassr star central defender has earned $53 million throughout his career. He will earn an additional $73.5 million while playing with the Saudi side.
Laporte has won six trophies, all during his time with Manchester City.
Third on the list is Real Madrid’s David Alaba. The 31-year-old earns $22.5 million a year to secure their defense. Alaba’s deal includes an $850 million release clause, the highest of any player on the list.
He’s also won the most individual awards, including being named to UEFA’s Team of the Year three times.
Milan Skriniar brings in $20 million to land fourth on the list. The PSG defender has the most career tackles of any defender in the top 10 with 337. He’s been named Slovakian Player of the Year four times.
Another PSG defender rounds out the top five. Lucas Hernández makes $19 million playing mostly as a left-back. He’s one of only two defenders on the list to win the Champions League and the World Cup.
Three of the top 10 highest-paid defenders play for PSG. Real Madrid and PSG are the only clubs with multiple defenders among the top 10 highest-paid.
Koulibaly’s $34.7 million salary is more than what all of the Serie A clubs featured on the list spend on defenders combined, underlining the financial woes of Serie A compared to other leagues.
Ranking The Highest-Paid Soccer Defenders
Here is the entire list of the highest-paid soccer defenders. The list was compiled with data from Capology.
- Updated: June 21, 2024
| Rank | Player | Career Tackles | Awards Won | Team | Total Compensation |
| 1 | Kalidou Koulibaly | 288 | 0 | Al Hilal | $34.7 million |
| 2 | Aymeric Laporte | 178 | 0 | Al Nassr | $24.5 million |
| 3 | David Alaba | 175 | 13 | Real Madrid | $22.5 million |
| 4 | Milan Skriniar | 337 | 4 | PSG | $20 million |
| 5 | Lucas Hernández | 295 | 0 | PSG | $19 million |
| 6 | David Raum | 264 | 0 | RB Leipzig | $18.87 million |
| 7 | Antonio Rüdiger | 216 | 0 | Real Madrid | $18.75 million |
| 8 | Raphaël Varane | 183 | 2 | Manchester United | $17.68 million |
| 9 | Marquinhos | 248 | 0 | PSG | $16.8 million |
| 10 | Matthijs de Ligt | 177 | 3 | Bayern Munich | $16 million |
| 11 | Éder Militão | 208 | 0 | Real Madrid | $14.58 million |
| 12 | Achraf Hakimi | 325 | 0 | PSG | $14.5 million |
| 13 | Jules Koundé | 238 | 0 | Barcelona | $13.55 million |
| T-14 | Reece James | 263 | 0 | Chelsea | $13 million |
| T-14 | John Stones | 98 | 0 | Manchester City | $13 million |
| T-14 | Andreas Christensen | 142 | 1 | Barcelona | $13 million |
| 17 | João Cancelo | 393 | 0 | Barcelona | $12.5 million |
| 18 | Alessandro Bastoni | 226 | 0 | Inter Milan | $12.04 million |
| 19 | Min-jae Kim | 114 | 1 | Bayern Munich | $12 million |
| 20 | Virgil van Dijk | 172 | 8 | Liverpool | $11.44 million |
| 21 | Alphonso Davies | 293 | 4 | Bayern Munich | $11.25 million |
| T-22 | Alex Sandro | 281 | 0 | Juventus | $11.11 million |
| T-22 | Gleison Bremer | 253 | 0 | Juventus | $11.11 million |
| 24 | Niklas Süle | 176 | 0 | Borussia Dortmund | $11 million |
| 25 | Renan Lodi | 211 | 0 | Al Hilal | $10.8 million |
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