Arsenal’s 2025/26 wage bill, the cost of ambition | OneFootball

Arsenal have moved beyond simply chasing the top four, building a squad aimed at the Premier League and Champions League. Record revenue of £691 million in the last financial year has fed into an estimated £181 million first-team wage bill.

According to Hounslow Herald, Mikel Arteta and new sporting director Andrea Berta have shaped a top-heavy wage structure that rewards elite output and keeps talent cycling.

The headline move is Bukayo Saka’s January 2026 renewal, reportedly a landmark extension. He is now Arsenal’s highest earner on £300,000 a week, £15.6 million a year, a deal designed to deter Europe’s biggest clubs.

Kai Havertz earns around £280,000 a week after proving his versatility central to Arteta’s plans. Gabriel Jesus remains among the top earners on £265,000, while Martin Ødegaard and Declan Rice are each on £240,000, underlining their shared importance.

The 2025 window brought close to £200 million of signings to narrow the title gap. Viktor Gyökeres arrived from Sporting CP for about £63.5 million on a five-year contract worth £200,000 a week, with Eberechi Eze on £180,000. Mikel Merino at £130,000 and Riccardo Calafiori at £120,000 sit in the mid-tier bracket.

Despite the climbing payroll, PSR headroom looks healthy. Revenue rising from £616.6 million to £691 million has trimmed the wage-to-turnover ratio from 53% to roughly 50%, offering scope for the 2026 summer window.

Source: Hounslow Herald