Leeds United understandably have one of the biggest annual wage bills in the Championship, after suffering relegation from the Premier League back in 2022/23.
The Whites currently have an annual payroll of £30,056,000, with the average player earning around £25,130 per week. It was a busy summer at Elland Road, with the likes of Crysencio Summerville, Georginio Rutter and Archie Gray all leaving, whereas eight new players were brought in.
So, we at Football FanCast have ranked every Leeds United player in the first-team squad in order from highest to lowest in terms of wages for the 2024/25 season, with the help of Capology.
Disclaimer – only the club and the players themselves truly know their wages, so take each of these figures as you will.
|
Rank |
Player |
Gross pay per week |
Gross pay per year |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Patrick Bamford |
£70,000 |
£3,640,000 |
|
=2 |
Junior Firpo |
£60,000 |
£3,120,000 |
|
=2 |
Manor Solomon |
£60,000 |
£3,120,000 |
|
=4 |
Daniel James |
£50,000 |
£2,600,000 |
|
=4 |
Pascal Struijk |
£50,000 |
£2,600,000 |
|
6 |
Brenden Aaronson |
£45,000 |
£2,340,000 |
|
=7 |
Ethan Ampadu |
£40,000 |
£2,080,000 |
|
=7 |
Joe Rodon |
£40,000 |
£2,080,000 |
|
9 |
Max Wober |
£35,000 |
£1,820,000 |
|
=10 |
Wilfried Gnonto |
£30,000 |
£1,560,000 |
|
=10 |
Karl Darlow |
£30,000 |
£1,560,000 |
|
=10 |
Jayden Bogle |
£30,000 |
£1,560,000 |
|
=10 |
Illan Meslier |
£30,000 |
£1,560,000 |
|
14 |
Sam Byram |
£20,000 |
£1,040,000 |
|
=15 |
Largie Ramazani |
£17,500 |
£910,000 |
|
=15 |
Ao Tanaka |
£17,500 |
£910,000 |
|
=17 |
Joel Piroe |
£15,000 |
£780,000 |
|
=17 |
Ilia Gruev |
£15,000 |
£780,000 |
|
=17 |
Joe Gelhardt |
£15,000 |
£780,000 |
|
=17 |
Mateo Joseph |
£15,000 |
£780,000 |
|
21 |
Isaac Schmidt |
£10,000 |
£520,000 |
|
22 |
Joe Rothwell |
£8,000 |
£416,000 |
|
23 |
Alex Cairns |
£5,000 |
£260,000 |
Here are the top 10 Leeds United earners…
10
Wilfried Gnonto
£30,000 per week
Wilfried Gnonto wanted out of Leeds in 2023, handing in a transfer request and even refusing to play for the Whites. However, fast forward 12 months and the Italy international has penned a new Elland Road contract until 2028.
The winger looks set to be a key part of the club’s plans moving forward.
9
Max Wober
£35,000 per week
Max Wober was one of several Leeds players who exercised their option to leave Leeds on loan after they were relegated from the Premier League in 2023.
The Austria international spent a season with Borussia Monchengladbach before returning in 2024. He’s under contract in Yorkshire until 2027.
8
Joe Rodon
£40,000 per week
Centre-back Joe Rodon made his Leeds loan into a permanent transfer from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer. The Wales international has been a regular under Daniel Farke and has been one of the first names on the teamsheet over the last 12 months.
His deal runs until 2028.
7
Ethan Ampadu
£40,000 per week
Another Wales international who has been key for Leeds is Ethan Ampadu. Signed from Chelsea in 2023, the versatile star was even made club captain following Liam Cooper’s departure.
Unfortunately, Ampadu suffered a serious knee injury in September but when fit is nailed on to start in midfield or in defence.
6
Brenden Aaronson
£45,000 per week
Another player who returned from a year on loan in Germany was attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson. He had a clear-the-air conversation with Farke in the summer and has started the 24/25 season strongly.
In fact, the USA international was voted Leeds’ Player of the Month for August.
5
Pascal Struijk
£50,000 per week
Pascal Struijk has had his injury issues in recent seasons, but when fully fit, appears to be a part of Farke’s strongest XI.
The defender joined Leeds’ U21 ranks back in 2020 from Ajax and progressed into the first-team setup under Marcelo Bielsa. He’s made over 100 appearances for the Whites.
4
Daniel James
£50,000 per week
Signed from rivals Manchester United in 2021, Daniel James struggled to get going at Elland Road and was even sent out on loan to Fulham a year later.
However, following Leeds’ relegation to the Championship, James has found a home in Yorkshire and scored a career-best 13 league goals in 23/24.
3
Manor Solomon
£60,000 per week
Loanee Manor Solomon turned down interest from clubs who could offer European football in order to join Leeds on loan for the 24/25 campaign.
The winger’s permanent home is in north London with Tottenham, and if he can stay fit, Solomon could be a shrewd pick up to replace the likes of Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter.
2
Junior Firpo
£60,000 per week
Left-back Junior Firpo has had his struggles in Yorkshire after joining from Barcelona back in 2021, with the Dominican Republic international suffering numerous injuries with the Whites.
However, he has impressed and stayed fit more recently in the Championship and has registered 10 open play assists in 2024, although his current contract expires at the end of the season.
1
Patrick Bamford
£70,000 per week
Another player who has had plenty of ups and downs in a Leeds shirt is top-earner Patrick Bamford. He signed his current Whites contract back in 2021 following a fine season in front of goal in the Premier League.
However, more recently, Bamford has struggled to score consistently and has suffered multiple injury issues, so it’ll e interesting to see what they do with the forward between now and 2026.
