You won’t believe how much the top players at Chelsea Football Club make. As one of the richest and most successful clubs in the Premier League, Chelsea has the means to attract some of the biggest stars in the sport and pay them accordingly. The Blues have had their fair share of big-name signings over the years, with some massive contracts to match.
Here are the projected top 5 highest-paid Chelsea players for the 2023-2024 season based on weekly wages. Buckle up because these figures are truly jaw-dropping.
Chelsea Highest Paid Players (2023-24)
Chelsea Football Club has some of the highest-paid players in the Premier League. Let’s take a look at Chelsea’s top earners for the 2023-24 season:
#5 Christopher Nkunku -£195,000 Per Week
Coming in at number 5 is Christopher Nkunku, a French attacking midfielder, currently playing for Premier League club Chelsea and the France national team.. At only 26 years of age, Nkunku is earning a hefty £195,000 per week at Chelsea.
Christopher Alan Nkunku was born on November 14, 1997, in Lagny-sur-Marne, Seine-et-Marne. He began playing football at the age of six with AS Marolles. In 2009, he joined Fontainebleau, where scouts from various major clubs saw him. Despite his young age and infantile size, he was praised for “his speed, technique, and vision of the game,” according to Norbert Boj in 2020, the former head of the Fontainebleau football school.
Nkunku started his football career at Paris Saint-Germain, making his professional debut at the age of 18 on 8 December 2015 in a UEFA Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk, replacing Lucas Moura after 87 minutes in a 2–0 home win. Nkunku graduated from the Paris Saint-Germain Academy and made his professional debut for the club in December 2015. He made 78 appearances for them and won three Ligue 1 titles, the Coupe de France twice, and the Coupe de la Ligue twice. Nkunku joined RB Leipzig in July 2019, where he scored 70 goals in 172 appearances and won the DFB-Pokal twice. He was crowned Bundesliga Player of the Season in 2021-22 and was the league’s leading scorer the following season. Chelsea signed Nkunku for £52 million in 2023.
#4 Wesley Fofana – £200,000 per week
At only 23 years of age, Wesley Fofana is the 4th highest paid Chelsea player, earning £200,000 per week. Wesley Tidjan Fofana was born on the 17th of December 2000; he is a French professional footballer who plays for Premier League Club Chelsea and the France national team.
He began playing football at the age of six with Repos Vitrolles. Fofana has played in the junior system since 2015, earning his first professional deal with Saint-Étienne on May 15, 2018. On May 18, 2019, he made his debut for the club in a 3-0 league win over Nice. Fofana signed a seven-year contract with Premier League club Chelsea on August 31, 2022, for a reported sum of £70 million, with £5 million in add-ons. On the 3rd of September, he made his Premier League debut for the club in a 2-1 win at home against West Ham United. Wesley scored his first goal for Chelsea in a 3-0 Champions League victory over AC Milan at Stamford Bridge on 5 October. However, he sustained a catastrophic knee injury after 38 minutes, causing him to be replaced, and was ruled out until February 2023.
Fofana returned from injury on February 18, 2023, in a 0-1 home loss to Southampton. On March 4th, he scored his first Premier League goal against Leeds United in a 1-0 home victory. Chelsea reported on July 18, 2023, that Fofana had suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and had undergone surgery. In late November 2023, it was announced that Fofana had been cleared to resume training following his recovery from the ACL injury.
His tackling, aerial ability, and composure on the ball demonstrate a maturity beyond his years. Fofana’s potential and current level of ability justified Chelsea’s offering him a long-term contract with high wages.
#3 Ben Chilwell – £200,000 per week
Ben Chilwell is a 26-year-old who plays as a left-back or left wing-back for Premier League club Chelsea and the England National Team. He is one of Chelsea’s highest-paid players, earning £200,000 per week. With his current contract running until 2025, the Englishman is a key part of Chelsea’s future.
Chilwell began his career at Leicester City before moving on to Huddersfield Town on loan. He joined Chelsea in 2020 and won the UEFA Champions League in his first season. Chilwell made his international debut for England in 2018. He was a member of the England squad that came second in UEFA Euro 2020. On the 11th of April, 2023, Chilwell signed a new deal with Chelsea that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2027. He was appointed as Chelsea’s new vice-captain in August, taking over from Reece James. Still only 26, Chilwell is yet to reach his peak. He has developed into one of the Premier League’s best left-backs, with his dynamic displays attracting interest from other top clubs.
#2 Reece James – £250,000 per week
Reece Lewis James was born on December 8, 1999. He is an English professional footballer who now captains Premier League club Chelsea as well as the England national team. Reece James, at just 24 years of age, is Chelsea’s highest-paid defender.
James joined Chelsea at the age of six and had a brief stint at West London rivals Fulham at the age of seven. In his early teens, he was a striker who idolized Didier Drogba, but he was shifted to midfield and eventually to right-back, where he struggled at first. In March 2017, he made his professional debut with Chelsea. He captained the under-18s to FA Youth Cup victory in 2017-18 and was voted Academy Player of the Season. In June 2018, he agreed to a new four-year contract with the club.
James signed a new six-year contract with Chelsea on September 5, 2022, committing to the club until June 20, 2028. His performances were praised in October 2022, but he developed a knee injury later that month and had to see a specialized doctor. He was injured in his first game back on December 27, 2022, and was replaced after 53 minutes. He was ruled out of the game for another four weeks. Chelsea announced on April 25, 2023, that James would miss the rest of the season due to a hamstring injury. Following the departure of César Azpilicueta, James was named Chelsea’s club captain on August 9, 2023.
James is valued for his versatility, physicality, and consistency. He primarily plays as a right-back but can also play as a left-back or center-back. His strength, speed, and stamina allow him to dominate opponents on both ends of the pitch. James has been an ever-present figure for Chelsea, starting nearly every match when fit and available. At his young age, he is already considered one of the best right-backs in the Premier League.
#1 Raheem Sterling – £325,000 per week
Raheem Shaquille Sterling, MBE, was born on December 8th, 1994. He is an English professional footballer who currently plays as a winger for Premier League club Chelsea and the England national team. Raheem Sterling is Chelsea’s highest-paid player, earning a whopping £325,000 per week in wages. At only 29 years old, the English winger is in the prime of his career.
Sterling began his professional career at Queens Park Rangers before joining Liverpool in 2010. In 2014, he received the Golden Boy Award. Following a lengthy contract dispute, he was signed by Manchester City in a deal costing up to £49 million, the largest transfer fee ever paid for an English player at the time. He then helped Manchester City win back-to-back Premier League titles in 2017-18 and 2018-19. He was named to the PFA Premier League Team of the Year in 2018-19, as well as PFA Young Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year.
Sterling signed a five-year contract with Chelsea on July 13, 2022, for a price of £47.5 million. He made his club debut on August 6th in a 1-0 away win against Everton. Sterling scored his first goal for the club, a brace, in a 2-1 win against Leicester City on August 27 and added another in the following match, a 2-1 away loss to Southampton. On 14 September, in a 1-1 home draw against RB Salzburg, he scored his first Champions League goal of the season under newly appointed Graham Potter.
Sterling scored against Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of Chelsea’s round of 16 encounter on March 7, 2023, which the Blues won 2-0 at home, advancing them to the quarterfinals. His pace, dribbling, and finishing ability make him a nightmare for defenders to mark. With many years left in his career, Sterling looks set to become a Chelsea legend if he continues his current form.
Sterling’s huge wages reflect his importance to Chelsea and status as one of the world’s top wingers. Sterling’s contributions on the pitch and marketability off it make him worth the investment for Chelsea’s owners. Chelsea Players, from the highest-paid Player to the Lowest paid Player
Chelsea has some of the highest paid players in the Premier League. Let’s look at Chelsea’splayers from the highest paid to the lowest paid players for the 2023-24 season:
Chelsea’s 2023 Active Roster
| PLAYER (29) | POS | AGE | ANNUAL SALARY | WEEKLY SALARY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raheem Sterling | M | 29 | £16,900,000 | £325,000 |
| Reece James | D | 24 | £13,000,000 | £250,000 |
| Ben Chilwell | D | 26 | £10,400,000 | £200,000 |
| Wesley Fofana | D | 22 | £10,400,000 | £200,000 |
| Christopher Nkunku | F | 26 | £10,140,000 | £195,000 |
| Enzo Fernández | M | 22 | £9,360,000 | £180,000 |
| Marc Cucurella | M | 25 | £9,100,000 | £175,000 |
| Moises Caicedo | M | 22 | £7,800,000 | £150,000 |
| Malang Sarr | D | 24 | £6,240,000 | £120,000 |
| Thiago Silva | D | 39 | £5,720,000 | £110,000 |
| Carney Chukwuemeka | M | 20 | £5,200,000 | £100,000 |
| Mykhailo Mudryk | F | 22 | £5,200,000 | £100,000 |
| Benoit Badiashile | D | 22 | £4,680,000 | £90,000 |
| Axel Disasi | D | 25 | £4,160,000 | £80,000 |
| Cole Palmer | M | 21 | £3,900,000 | £75,000 |
| Nicolas Jackson | F | 22 | £3,380,000 | £65,000 |
| Robert Sánchez | GK | 26 | £3,120,000 | £60,000 |
| Trevoh Chalobah | D | 24 | £2,600,000 | £50,000 |
| Conor Gallagher | M | 23 | £2,600,000 | £50,000 |
| Noni Madueke | F | 21 | £2,600,000 | £50,000 |
| Malo Gusto | D | 20 | £2,340,000 | £45,000 |
| Roméo Lavia | M | 19 | £2,340,000 | £45,000 |
| Lesley Ugochukwu | M | 19 | £2,340,000 | £45,000 |
| Armando Broja | F | 22 | £2,080,000 | £40,000 |
| Marcus Bettinelli | GK | 31 | £1,820,000 | £35,000 |
| Djordje Petrovic | GK | 24 | £1,300,000 | £25,000 |
| Ian Maatsen | D | 21 | £1,040,000 | £20,000 |
| Deivid Washington | F | 18 | £364,000 | £7,000 |
| Levi Colwill | D | 20 | £260,000 | £5,000 |
Who is Chelsea’s Highest Paid Player in 2023?
Raheem Sterling is the highest-paid Chelsea player as of December 2023. Every week, the former Liverpool and Manchester City forward earns a whopping £325,000.
Conclusion
And there you have it, the top 5 highest-paid Chelsea players for the 2023-2024 season. As Chelsea continues building their squad with expensive star signings, their wage bill skyrockets.