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Southampton wages: Who is the best paid player at the Saints and everything you need to know about Southampton's salary bill

Despite the team’s struggles, Southampton's loyal supporters have remained unwavering in their passion for the club. The stands are consistently packed, and the fans’ dedication to their team is clear, providing a sense of pride that resonates with the players who wear the crest.

However, in today’s financially-driven football world, the sport often revolves around large wage bills and the pursuit of money, which has added a different layer of challenge for clubs like Southampton.

On the contrary, while the Saints may not boast a roster filled with world-class names, their annual payroll is similar to that of Bournemouth and Brentford — two clubs that are performing well and are even in contention for European spots.

So, who is the highest earner at Southampton this season? And who is on the opposite end of the spectrum?

GOAL delved into the numbers from Capology and found out!

*Salaries are gross and on an annual basis

  • Arsenal FC v Southampton FC - Premier LeagueGetty Images Sport

    Goalkeepers

    Former Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale is not just the highest-earning goalkeeper, but also the highest earner at Southampton.

    Veteran goalkeeper Alex McCarthy ranks second on the list of top-earning keepers at the club. McCarthy has accepted a secondary role following Ramsdale's arrival, transitioning to a backup position with professionalism.

    Joe Lumley is the lowest-paid goalkeeper at the club.

    NameSalary
    Aaron Ramsdale£6,240,000
    Alex McCarthy£2,080,000
    Gavin Bazunu£1,040,000
    Joe Lumley£520,000
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    Defenders

    Jan Bednarek, who has been at the St. Mary's Stadium since 2017 and has close to 250 appearances for the club to his name, is the highest-paid defender.

    Jack Stephens, the longest-serving Southampton player in the current roster, has been a great servant to the club and the fans shouldn't be displeased to find out that he is their second-highest earning defender, earning more than the likes of Yukinari Sugawara, Charlie Taylor, and Kyle Walker-Peters.

    And then 22-year-old Taylor Harwood-Bellis is the lowest-paid defender at Southampton.

    NameSalary
    Jan Bednarek£3,640,000
    Jack Stephens£2,340,000
    Yukinari Sugawara£2,080,000
    Charlie Taylor£1,560,000
    Kyle Walker-Peters£1,040,000
    Juan Larios£780,000
    Nathan Wood£780,000
    Ryan Manning£780,000
    Armel Bella-Kotchap£780,000
    James Bree£520,000
    Taylor Harwood-Bellis£390,000
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    Midfielders

    Joe Aribo, yet another integral member of the squad, is currently the highest-paid midfielder in the squad with an annual package worth £3.64m.

    Former Liverpool and Brighton midfielder Adam Lallana makes it to the second spot on the list along with Chelsea loanee Lesley Ugochukwu.

    Albert Gronbaek, who joined on loan from Rennes on a half-season loan, is the lowest-paid midfielder in the squad.

    NameSalary
    Joe Aribo£3,640,000
    Adam Lallana£2,340,000
    Lesley Ugochukwu£2,340,000
    Flynn Downes£1,560,000
    Will Smallbone£1,300,000
    Mateus Fernandes£1,040,000
    Albert Gronbaek£936,000
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    Attackers

    No surprises here as Adam Armstrong is the outright top-earning forward at Southampton, making £3.12m per season. He was the MVP last season as Southampton earned promotion to the Premier League, but has lacked the killer instinct in the top flight this season.

    The promising duo of Cameron Archer and Kamaldeen Sulemana, along with the experienced Scotland international Ryan Fraser, are the joint second-highest earning forwards.

    Samuel Amo-Ameyaw and Tyler Dibling are the lowest-paid forwards with a salary of £260,000 each.

    NameSalary
    Adam Armstrong£3,120,000
    Cameron Archer£2,080,000
    Kamaldeen Sulemana£2,080,000
    Ryan Fraser£2,080,000
    Paul Onuachu£1,560,000
    Ross Stewart£1,040,000
    Samuel Amo-Ameyaw£260,000
    Tyler Dibling£260,000
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    Top 5 highest-paid Southampton players

    As you might have already figured out, Ramsdale is the undisputed top earner at Southampton and the only player to earn more than £6m annually.

    Bednarek and Aribo are the joint-second highest-earning players at the club, with Armstrong and Stephens finishing in fourth and fifth spot, respectively.

    NameSalary
    Aaron Ramsdale£6,240,000
    Jan Bednarek£3,640,000
    Joe Aribo£3,640,000
    Adam Armstrong£3,120,000
    Jack Stephens£2,340,000
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    Top 5 lowest-paid Southampton players

    The list comprises of only Englishmen, three of which are youngsters in Amo-Ameyaw, Dibling, and Harwood-Bellis.

    29-year-old Lumley and 27-year-old right-back Bree are the fourth and fifth-lowest paid players, respectively.

    NameSalary
    Samuel Amo-Ameyaw£260,000
    Tyler Dibling£260,000
    Taylor Harwood-Bellis£390,000
    Joe Lumley£520,000
    James Bree£520,000
  • Total salary costs Southampton

    But what does that mean for the overall picture? In which area of the pitch are Southampton spending the most money, and how much do they spend annually on salaries for the first team?

    The Saints are dedicating the largest portion of their payroll to their forwards, with these players accounting for nearly 40% of the club's total salary expenditure.

    LineSalary
    Goalkeepers£9,880,000
    Defenders£14,690,000
    Midfielders£13,156,000
    Forwards£12,480,000
    Total£50,206,000