Kevin de Bruyne set a new record on Saturday, and his influence in the game is certainly reflected in the all-time Premier League midfielder wage rankings.De Bruyne set up Erling Haaland to score the opener in Manchester City’s 4-1 win against Southampton on Saturday, a result that kept the pressure up on table-toppers Arsenal.The Belgian midfielder’s cross was significant for another reason though: De Bruyne has now provided 100 assists in the Premier League.Not only that, no player has ever reached that milestone as quickly as De Bruyne. It’s taken the midfielder 237 matches to reach the century mark, 56 fewer games than previous record holder Cesc Fabregas.
De Bruyne will go down as one of the all-time great Premier League midfielders, and his wage reflects that. The 31-year-old is the highest-paid midfielder in the division, earning £400,000 per week at City. But who are the other highest earners in his position?Raheem Sterling left City last summer after winning four Premier League titles during his seven years at the club, and while things might not have gone according to plan on the pitch, they have worked out alright off it.Sterling was one of the first signings of the Todd Boehly era at Chelsea, and was given a five-year contract worth £325,000 per week.
Jack Grealish is more of a winger these days, but the 27-year-old holds a desire to play a little deeper than Pep Guardiola currently deploys him.City activated the £100m release clause in his Aston Villa contract in the summer of 2021, and gave him a six-year deal worth £300,000 per week.Taking home the same amount on the other side of Manchester is Manchester United midfielder Casemiro, who arrived from Real Madrid last summer.
The 30-year-old has five Champions League winner’s medals from his time in Spain, but fancied a new challenge – and a bigger salary – at Old Trafford.N’Golo Kante has a reputation for being humble and down-to-earth, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t get suitably rewarded for his on-field contributions.The Frenchman signed an improved contract at Chelsea in 2018 worth £290,000 per week, although that deal is set to expire in June.Bruno Fernandes made an instant impact when he joined United in 2020, and two years later he was handed a contract extension that boosted his wage to £240,000 per week.
Back over at the Etihad Stadium, Phil Foden recently signed a new contract that more than doubled his previous salary.Foden’s rise from academy to first team has been remarkable, a journey recognised with a five-year, £225,000 per week deal.City teammate Rodri is just behind him in the salary stakes with £220,000 per week, while rounding out the Premier League top ten are Arsenal’s Thomas Partey and Liverpool’s Thiago Alcantara, who are both earning £200,000 per week.
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