Share

City players best-paid athletes

London - Footballers who play for English Premiership club Manchester City are the most highly-paid athletes in global sport, according to a study published on Wednesday.

The study, carried out by Britain's Sporting Intelligence website, found that the average annual salary of a first-team player at City was £5.3 million (R94.7 million)

City top the list ahead of Major League Baseball teams the New York Yankees and the LA Dodgers, with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Chelsea also featuring in the top 10.

NBA teams the Brooklyn Nets and the Chicago Bulls complete the line-up.

City's lavish spending on players has not been without complications, however.

Reports in the British media suggest that City are due to face punishment for contravening European governing body UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules, which oblige clubs not to spend beyond their means.

Top 10 best-paid players in world sport (average annual salary in sterling):

1. Manchester City (English Premiership) £5.337 million (R94.7m)

2. New York Yankees (Major League Baseball) £5.286 million (R93.8m)

3. LA Dodgers (Major League Baseball) £5.119 million (R90.8m)

4. Real Madrid (La Liga) £4.993 million (R88.6m)

5. Barcelona (La Liga) £4.901 million (R87m)

6. Brooklyn Nets (NBA) £4.485 million (R80m)

7. Bayern Munich (Bundesliga) £4.402 million (R78m)

8. Manchester United (English Premiership) £4.322 million (R76.7m)

9. Chicago Bulls (NBA) £3.985 million (R70.7m)

10. Chelsea (English Premiership) £3.984 million (R70.7m)

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
25% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1471 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2250 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE