The Championship is known for its fierce competitiveness, but it is also home to some of the highest-paid players outside the Premier League.
From established internationals to expensive signings, clubs across the second tier are investing heavily in talent to chase promotion.
With wages continuing to rise, the league’s top earners are now making headlines — and not always for their performances on the pitch. From a former England international earning £150,000 per week to multiple Leicester City stars among the highest-paid, the financial scale of the Championship is becoming increasingly significant.
Here is a look at the top earners in the Championship, based on weekly wages reported by Planet Football.
10. Hamza Choudhury – £50k
One of seven Leicester City players on this list, Choudhury is still just 28 despite making his debut during the Sven-Goran Eriksson era.
9. Oliver Skipp – £50k
After Leicester won the Championship in 2023-24, they signed Skipp from Tottenham in a £20 million deal, offering him a five-year contract worth £50,000 per week.
He has been unable to prevent Leicester’s relegation from the Premier League or improve their promotion prospects this season.
8. Carlos Vicente – £50k
Birmingham City, backed by American investment firm Knighthead, have been able to spend on transfer fees and wages. In January, they signed Vicente from Deportivo Alavés for £7 million, beating competition from Ajax.
The 26-year-old winger said he was attracted by Birmingham’s project and the challenge of winning promotion. He moved from £17,500 per week in LaLiga to £50,000 per week on a three-and-a-half-year deal.
7. Jannik Vestergaard – £60k
Leicester’s defensive woes are not helped by high wage bills.
6. Joe Aribo – £70k
Aribo rose to prominence at Rangers, winning the Premiership and Scottish FA Cup, and scoring in the 2022 Europa League final.
His performances earned him a £10 million move to Southampton, with wages rising from £7,500 per week in Scotland to £70,000 per week.
Southampton were relegated in his first season, then won the Championship play-off final in 2023-24 before being relegated again.
In January, Aribo joined Leicester on loan, with both clubs sharing his wages.
5. Patson Daka – £75k
Daka has scored just one Championship goal in 24 appearances, while earning £75,000 per week.
4. Ricardo Pereira – £80k
Pereira is in his eighth season at Leicester after joining from Porto in 2018 for an initial £17.5 million.
He won the FA Cup in 2020-21 and was part of Leicester’s Championship-winning side under Enzo Maresca.
Now club captain, Pereira earns £80,000 per week. However, his contract expires at the end of the 2025-26 season, and he has been linked with clubs in Spain and Portugal.
3. Harry Winks – £90k
Winks joined Leicester from Tottenham in 2023 for more regular first-team football and received a wage rise from £50,000 to £90,000 per week.
He played a key role in Leicester’s Championship title-winning season in 2023-24.
This season, he has faced controversy, including a reported refusal to stay overnight at the training ground, which led to clashes with staff and players.
He is now expected to leave Leicester on a free transfer at the end of the season.
2. Matt Targett – £100k
Newcastle United signed Targett on loan before giving him a four-year contract worth £100,000 per week after their Saudi-backed takeover.
He became a part-time player as he competed with other defenders and moved to Middlesbrough on a season-long loan last summer. Middlesbrough pay 60% of his wages.
Targett has become a fan favourite, contributing two goals and three assists in 27 Championship appearances, and aims to win promotion again after previously doing so with Fulham.
1. Kalvin Phillips – £150k
Leeds United academy graduate Phillips starred under Marcelo Bielsa and was key to Leeds’ Championship title in 2019-20. He later became England Men’s Player of the Year after Euro 2020.
He joined Manchester City in 2022 for £45 million, signing a six-year deal worth £150,000 per week.
However, injuries and limited playing time restricted him to just 32 appearances.
After loan spells at West Ham and Ipswich, Phillips moved to Sheffield United on a six-month loan. The Blades pay £45,000 per week, with City covering the remaining £105,000.
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