Chelsea are often teased for having a larger squad than is considered usual. But what does mean for their wage bill?
While Chelsea have never been frugal spenders since the infamous takeover, even in the Todd Boehly era, they must find a way to keep their finances in order, for the long-term health of the club.
However, this can prove difficult, particularly when players hear word about their teammates being paid more than them, despite playing less (sometimes).
Over the last few years, fans have felt closer than ever to the players who wear their favourite shirts. That said, transparency has proven to be a key factor in fan involvement. So, without further ado, let's answer the question of "who is the highest paid player at Chelsea?"
Who is the highest paid player at Chelsea?
1. Reece James (£250,000 per week)
The highest paid player at Chelsea is Reece James. James earns a weekly wage of £250,000 per week at Stamford Bridge. So, this is an annual salary of £13,000,000. James does not earn bonuses in his current deal.
Reece James is one of the best full-backs in the world. Certainly, he is highly respected at Chelsea and he has even captained the club. He is just as good at defending as he is at attacking, which is a rarity in the modern footballing landscape.
However, the main frustration with Reece James is his poor injury history. Despite being one of the most talented players in the world, it is wasted at Chelsea considering he's on the treatment table more often than the pitch.
As things stand, Reece James is under contract at Stamford Bridge until June 30, 2028.
2. Ben Chilwell (£200,000)
The second highest paid player at Chelsea is Ben Chilwell. The England defender earns £200,000 per week in wages, amounting to an annual salary of £10,400,000. Ben Chilwell does not earn bonuses at Chelsea.
Chelsea signed Ben Chilwell from Leicester City in 2020. Since he was signed, Chilwell has had a rollercoaster time at Chelsea. On the one hand, he established himself as a first-team star when fit, even winning the Champions League with Chelsea.
On the other hand, since Enzo Maresca was appointed as Chelsea manager, Ben Chilwell was essentially omitted from the first-team. Hopefully as time progresses, he can make his way up the estimations, so Chelsea can get a return on their investment.
Ben Chilwell's current deal for Chelsea expires in June, 2027.
3. Wesley Fofana (£200,000 per week)
The third highest paid player at Chelsea is Wesley Fofana. The French defender earns £200,000 per week at Chelsea. Like Chilwell, this equates to a yearly salary of £10,400,000. Fofana does not earn bonuses at Chelsea.
Despite being at Chelsea since 2022, it still feels like Wesley Fofana is in his earliest days at Chelsea. This is because Fofana only found a consistent spot in the starting lineup under Enzo Maresca in 2024/25.
Fofana is a modern defender, who has a great ability to play out possession from the back. He is confident on the ball and even strides forward to help out attack whenever possible.
Due to his long-term contract, Wesley Fofana is under contract at Chelsea until June, 2029.
4. Christopher Nkunku (£195,000 per week)
The fourth highest paid player at Chelsea is Christopher Nkunku. Nkunku earns a weekly amount of £195,000 per week, equalling a yearly total of £10,140,000. As things stand, Nkunku does not earn any bonuses at Chelsea.
Christopher Nknunku put pen to paper at Chelsea in the summer of 2023. However, his first season at the club was unfortunately plagued by injuries. So, he is finding his feet in his first season under Enzo Maresca.
Nkunku joined Chelsea ahead of the peak stages of his career, after spending time developing in Germany for RB Leipzig. He has great dribbling ability and he is surprisingly strong, making him a great option to knick loose balls in the final third.
When Christopher Nkunku signed for Chelsea, he penned his current deal until June 2029.
5. Enzo Fernandez (£180,000 per week)
The fifth highest paid player at Chelsea is Enzo Fernandez. The Argentine midfielder earns £180,000 per week, which equates to £9,360,000 per week. Enzo Fernandez currently earns no bonuses at Chelsea.
Chelsea broke their transfer record to sign Enzo Fernandez in the summer of 2023. He was signed during a period of heavy investment into the Chelsea squad and is one of the rare players who prevailed. In fact, Enzo Fernandez emerged into one of the best players at Chelsea.
Playing in a deep midfield role for Chelsea, Enzo has high energy levels and he isn't shy to put a foot in when it could result in winning back possession for his side. He also has great leadership qualities.
As things stand, Enzo Fernandez runs out of contract at Chelsea in June 2032, being tied to a long contract.
* All figures and estimations are courtesy of Capology