Top 5 Clubs in Europe with the Highest Wage Bills in 2023

FC Barcelona led all European clubs in wages paid when UEFA released its financial analysis reports detailing how each club performed in various metrics last year.

Despite agreeing to a new contract with reduced terms, the Spanish powerhouses have been in financial difficulties for the past four years, which is why they were unable to keep Lionel Messi on the team.

Using data from the UEFA European Club Finance and Investment Landscape, these are the top five clubs with the highest wage bills in 2023.

Clubs with the highest wage bill in 2023

1. Barcelona FC

The club’s financial problems are well known; supporters of other teams have referred to them as bankrupt. The club paid an astounding €637 million in wages last year, which accounted for 78% of their total revenue of €815 million, according to the report. Their squad is worth €576 million.

2. Paris Saint-Germain

Due to the enormous salaries given to Kylian Mbappe, Neymar Jr., and Lionel Messi, the French powerhouses are closely behind with a wage bill of €617 million in 2023. Seventy-six percent of their income is from their wages. With the departures of Messi and Neymar, as well as Mbappe’s scheduled departure at the end of the season, they should witness a significant reduction.

3. Manchester City

The treble winners made history in the club’s history by paying out €554 million in salaries in 2023. With €825 million in revenue, the Citizens, who came in second, spent 66% of their earnings on wages.

4. Real Madrid

Real Madrid paid out €453 million in wages annually, or roughly 54% of total revenue, making it one of the lowest wage ratios among the top 20 clubs, according to the Deloitte Football Money League. The team’s revenue was €831 million.

5. Liverpool

Liverpool, the second English team in the top five, paid out €429 million in wages last season, or 63% of their €683 million total revenue. They managed to qualify for the UEFA Europa League this season despite going trophyless in the previous one.

Clubs with the most revenue in the 2022/23 season

Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid led the way with €831 million in revenue, ahead of treble winners Manchester City, according to a previous analysis of the clubs with the highest revenue in the 2022–2023 season.

Despite earning more than €700 million in revenue last season, Manchester United is the only team in the top five that does not appear on the list of teams with the highest wage bills.