Joe Aribo Among Top 10 Highest-Paid Championship Players

February 6, 2026

The Championship continues to attract top talent not just for its competitive football but also for lucrative salaries, with players now earning wages rivaling some in the Premier League. From seasoned internationals to high-profile transfers, clubs in the second tier are investing heavily to secure promotion.

According to Planet Football, here are the top 10 highest-paid Championship players based on weekly wages:

10. Hamza Choudhury – £50,000
One of seven Leicester City players on the list, Choudhury, 28, debuted during the Sven-Goran Eriksson era.

9. Oliver Skipp – £50,000
Signed from Tottenham for £20 million, Skipp received a five-year deal after Leicester’s 2023-24 Championship win.

8. Carlos Vicente – £50,000
Birmingham City acquired the 26-year-old winger from Deportivo Alavés for £7 million, increasing his weekly wage from £17,500 to £50,000.

7. Jannik Vestergaard – £60,000
Leicester’s defender remains one of the club’s highest earners amidst defensive challenges.

6. Joe Aribo – £70,000
Rising to prominence at Rangers, Aribo won the Scottish Premiership and FA Cup before moving to Southampton for £10 million. Following relegation and a Championship play-off win, he joined Leicester on loan, sharing wages between the two clubs.

5. Patson Daka – £75,000
Despite scoring only once in 24 appearances, Daka remains among Leicester’s top earners.

4. Ricardo Pereira – £80,000
Leicester captain Pereira, in his eighth season, continues to be a key player and leader for the club.

3. Harry Winks – £90,000
Winks, who moved from Tottenham in 2023, played a pivotal role in Leicester’s Championship title win but is set to leave on a free transfer at season’s end.

2. Matt Targett – £100,000
Signed by Newcastle before moving to Middlesbrough on loan, Targett earns £100,000 weekly, with 60% covered by Middlesbrough.

1. Kalvin Phillips – £150,000
The former Leeds United star and England Men’s Player of the Year now plays for Sheffield United on loan from Manchester City, with the club paying £45,000 of his £150,000 weekly wage.

The rising wages reflect the Championship’s growing financial power and its ability to attract players who could easily compete in the Premier League.