Jules Kounde, Robert lewandowski, lamine Yamal

Barcelona’s Big Earners 2025/26, a deep dive into the 12 highest-paid stars

September 30, 2025 Aksel Kryhlmand

In modern football, salaries and contracts are not just background details, they are windows into the strategies, ambitions, and sometimes the mistakes of a club. For FC Barcelona, a club that has experienced both glorious highs and financial turbulence over the past decade, the structure of player wages is especially revealing. Every figure tells a story, from the astronomical release clauses designed to ward off suitors to the long-term deals that signal trust in youth, or the short-term splashes that carry risk as well as promise.

The 2025/26 season is no different, with Barcelona fielding a roster that mixes veteran icons, expensive imports, and homegrown jewels who are already rewarded like global superstars. To understand the club’s current direction, it is crucial to look at who earns what, when their deals expire, and what that means for the future. In this article, we count down Barcelona’s 12 highest-paid players, starting from number 12 and building our way to the single most expensive name on the wage bill.

12. Gavi – €9.38 million per year

At just 21 years old, Gavi is already a pillar of Barcelona’s long-term strategy. His contract, signed on January 31, 2025, runs until June 30, 2030, giving him five years left. The deal includes a €1 billion release clause, effectively shutting the door on any realistic outside bids. His gross annual salary is €9.38 million, equivalent to €180,385 per week, an extraordinary figure for someone so young.

Gavi’s relentless energy, ferocity in duels, and tactical sharpness have made him indispensable. He plays with the spirit of a veteran, yet still has the raw intensity of youth, often setting the tone for Barcelona’s pressing game. Injuries have posed challenges, but his resilience in returning stronger each time has strengthened his reputation.

The high salary is not simply a reward for what he has achieved, it is a projection of what the club expects him to become. Barcelona views him as a future leader, possibly even a captain, whose influence will extend beyond the pitch. By tying him down until 2030, the board ensures that Gavi remains a symbol of continuity during a period of transition.

Fans see him as the embodiment of La Masia values, fierce, creative, and unyielding. His inclusion among the top 12 earners is both an acknowledgment of his talent and a safeguard for the club’s future. Though he ranks lowest on this list, his importance to Barcelona cannot be overstated, and his €9.38 million salary represents more than money, it represents trust.

11. Ferran Torres – €10.0 million per year

Ferran Torres’ contract was signed on January 1, 2022, and is due to expire on June 30, 2027, leaving two years remaining. His release clause is €1 billion, and his annual salary stands at €10 million, which equals €192,308 per week. Despite not always being a guaranteed starter, he remains one of Barcelona’s better-paid players.

Torres has been something of an enigma since arriving from Manchester City. At times, he shows brilliance, scoring decisive goals and contributing with intelligent runs. At other times, his inconsistency frustrates fans and coaches alike. Still, his versatility across the frontline makes him valuable in a squad that often struggles with injuries.

The financial commitment reflects Barcelona’s faith in his potential when they signed him. The next two years will be decisive in determining whether he earns a new contract or is moved on. His high release clause is more symbolic than realistic, as Barcelona’s board clearly values leverage in all negotiations.

Torres’ case illustrates the club’s dilemma, balancing between keeping faith in players who can still develop and making hard decisions when expectations are not fully met. His salary, while significant, is a calculated bet on his ability to deliver consistency in the seasons ahead.

10. Pedri – €12.5 million per year

Pedri signed his current contract on October 14, 2021, and it runs until June 30, 2030, with five years left. The deal pays him €12.5 million annually, €240,385 per week, and includes a €1 billion release clause. These numbers underline how indispensable he is to Barcelona’s sporting project.

Often compared to Andrés Iniesta, Pedri possesses a unique calmness and vision that make him central to Barcelona’s midfield identity. He can dictate the rhythm of games, create openings, and bring stability to the team’s play. Yet injuries have interrupted his rhythm, leaving fans to wonder what heights he could reach with a full, uninterrupted season.

The salary reflects Barcelona’s faith that he will overcome those setbacks. By committing until 2030, the club has ensured they will benefit from his prime years. His release clause, while astronomical, also signals that the board has no intention of letting him go under any circumstance.

For supporters, Pedri represents a continuation of Barcelona’s tradition of midfield artistry. His €12.5 million salary is not just about paying for skill, it is about maintaining the identity of the club itself.

9. Dani Olmo – €12.5 million per year

Dani Olmo signed with Barcelona on August 12, 2024, and his contract runs until June 30, 2030, leaving five years. His annual salary of €12.5 million, €240,385 per week, comes with a €500 million release clause. His deal represents Barcelona’s investment in a mature playmaker who also carries deep ties to the club.

Olmo, a La Masia product who left young to pursue opportunities abroad, returned as a seasoned professional from RB Leipzig. His versatility is invaluable, capable of playing as an attacking midfielder, winger, or even deeper if needed. He adds creativity, technical finesse, and tactical intelligence to a squad filled with raw talent.

The €500 million clause reflects both faith and realism. Barcelona believes in his value but recognizes he is not untouchable like Yamal or Pedri. His presence provides balance, offering experience and leadership in a relatively young dressing room.

Olmo’s €12.5 million salary mirrors this dual role. He is both a contributor now and an insurance policy for the future. Fans see him as someone who connects past and present, a La Masia son come home to elevate the next generation.

8. Ronald Araújo – €12.5 million per year

Araújo’s contract was signed on April 26, 2022, and runs until June 30, 2031, giving him six years left. His €12.5 million annual salary, €240,385 per week, and €1 billion release clause make him one of Barcelona’s most secure assets.

The Uruguayan defender embodies physical dominance, aerial strength, and leadership. In a squad often criticized for defensive fragility, Araújo provides stability and courage. Fans view him as a captain-in-waiting, someone who could lead the team for years to come.

His wages are high for a defender, but fully justified by his influence. He organizes the backline, wins duels, and has improved his ability with the ball, fitting Barcelona’s style. With six years remaining, his contract offers security in a position where Barcelona has often struggled.

The €1 billion clause ensures his future is tied to Barcelona. His salary is not just about paying a defender, it is about ensuring leadership, stability, and identity. Araújo is more than a player, he is the backbone of Barcelona’s future.

7. Marcus Rashford – €14.0 million per year

Rashford’s deal was signed on August 26, 2025, but runs only until June 30, 2026, leaving less than a year. Despite its short length, the contract pays €14 million annually, €269,231 per week, with a €500 million release clause. This structure reflects Barcelona’s gamble on immediate impact.

The English forward arrived from Manchester United with a global reputation. His pace, directness, and goal-scoring threat were exactly what Barcelona sought to add to their attack. Commercially, his signing also expands Barcelona’s reach into the English market.

But the risk is evident, paying such a high salary for a short-term deal places pressure on both player and club. Rashford must deliver quickly, or the experiment could be deemed too costly.

His presence among the top earners highlights Barcelona’s willingness to take bold risks. If he thrives, the club can extend or restructure. If not, his stay will remain a short-lived but high-profile chapter.

6. Jules Koundé – €15.63 million per year

Koundé signed his deal on July 29, 2022, set to expire June 30, 2030, leaving five years. His salary is €15.63 million annually, €300,577 per week, with a €1 billion release clause.

Since joining, he has been both versatile and reliable, able to play as center-back and right-back. Opinions differ on where he is most effective, but his value to the squad is undeniable. His wages reflect Barcelona’s acknowledgment of his defensive quality in a squad that has long been fragile at the back.

Critics argue his performances have not always matched the salary, but the long-term deal demonstrates faith. Barcelona views him as a defensive cornerstone, and his release clause ensures he is locked in.

His €15.63 million salary is an investment not only in present stability but also in long-term reliability.

5. Lamine Yamal – €16.67 million per year

Yamal signed his contract on October 19, 2023, running until June 30, 2031, leaving six years. His base salary is €16.67 million, €320,577 per week, but his bonus structure is the most lucrative in the squad, valued at €10.42 million annually. His release clause is €1 billion.

At just 18 years old, he is already Barcelona’s most exciting talent. His ability to score, create, and change matches single-handedly has made him untouchable. The extraordinary contract terms reflect Barcelona’s determination to protect him at all costs.

His inclusion among the top earners so early is unusual, but Yamal has already proven himself on the biggest stages for both club and country. The bonuses incentivize performance, but also reflect confidence that he will become a global superstar.

Barcelona fans see him as the face of the future, and the €1 billion clause ensures that only Barcelona will benefit from his rise. His wages are not just about today, they are a bet on generational greatness.

4. Marc-André ter Stegen – €16.67 million per year

Ter Stegen signed his current deal on August 25, 2023, set to expire June 30, 2028, leaving three years. He earns €16.67 million annually, €320,577 per week, with a €500 million release clause.

As Barcelona’s goalkeeper for over a decade, he has been the backbone of the team’s defensive structure. His reflexes, leadership, and composure have saved countless points. His salary reflects both performance and loyalty.

He is also a leader in the dressing room, guiding younger defenders. With three years left, his stability contrasts the turnover elsewhere in the squad. The €500 million clause is unlikely to be triggered, but it ensures Barcelona retain full control.

His wages reflect recognition of one of the finest goalkeepers in the world.

3. Raphinha – €16.67 million per year

Raphinha signed his deal on May 13, 2025, running until June 30, 2028, leaving three years. His salary is €16.67 million annually, €320,577 per week, with a €1 billion release clause.

The Brazilian winger stretches defenses, scores, and creates. His flair and unpredictability make him a constant danger, though consistency has sometimes been questioned.

Still, Barcelona clearly believe in him, rewarding him with one of the top salaries. His contract reflects confidence in his ability to deliver across the next three years, alongside emerging talents like Yamal.

His wages position him as one of Barcelona’s offensive leaders, ensuring his prime years unfold at Camp Nou.

2. Frenkie de Jong – €19.0 million per year

De Jong signed his deal on July 1, 2019, and it expires June 30, 2026, leaving one year. He earns €19 million annually, €365,385 per week, with a €400 million release clause.

The Dutchman is central to Barcelona’s midfield, dictating tempo with composure and intelligence. His role is crucial in balancing the mix of youth and experience in midfield.

With only one year left, speculation swirls over his future. Premier League clubs remain interested, but Barcelona values him highly. His wages reflect trust in his unique qualities, but also highlight the challenge of renewal.

If he stays, Barcelona retain one of the best midfielders in the world. If he leaves, replacing him will be almost impossible.

1. Robert Lewandowski – €20.83 million per year

Lewandowski signed on July 16, 2022, with a contract expiring June 30, 2026, leaving one year. He earns €20.83 million annually, €400,577 per week, with a €500 million release clause.

At 37 years old, his salary places him at the very top of the wage bill. His goals since arriving have justified much of the investment, but natural decline with age raises questions.

Barcelona must soon decide whether to extend, restructure, or part ways. His €20.83 million pay packet reflects both his legendary status and the financial risks the club has taken.

For now, Lewandowski remains the face of Barcelona’s frontline, the most expensive name on the payroll, and a reminder of the thin line between ambition and sustainability.