How much money Matt Le Tissier earned at Southampton | OneFootball

The playmaker earned legendary status with the South Coast club throughout a 17-year period

There is currently a major dark cloud hanging over Southampton FC as a result of the spygate scandal, which has ultimately seen those at St Mary's miss out on a chance of returning to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

It has been an extremely rocky road for Saints supporters in recent times, having been relegated twice in the past three years from the top-flight to the Championship with a play-off final success against Leeds United in between.

That comes after a previous 11-year period when the South Coast outfit were able to re-establish themselves amongst the elite of English football and even venture into European competition, all whilst having future stars such as Virgil Van Dijk, Calum Chambers, Luke Shaw and many others on their books.

It is also well-documented that the academy at Staplewood has produced many star performers over time, with the four standouts in this regard perhaps being Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott, Alan Shearer and Matt Le Tissier.

The quartet, of course, played for the Hampshire outfit across different eras, with the latter duo also experiencing what playing for Saints at their historic former stadium, The Dell, was all about, whilst Le Tissier also featured in the club's first-ever season at St Mary's, which also happened to be his last for the club after a 17-year playing association.

The aforementioned difference in eras which those star names played in has also been made evident when it comes to player earnings. This is also currently a hot topic of discussion surrounding the club, due to players within Tonda Eckert's squad reportedly seeking potential legal challenges due to a loss of income amid spygate.

However, back in 2023, Le Tissier wasn't afraid to admit that whilst his performances led to the nickname of 'Le God', he wasn't exactly making a fortune out of being a professional footballer.

How much money Matt Le Tissier earned while playing for Southampton FC

The Guernsey-born playmaker first joined Saints in 1985 as a 17-year-old after previously seeing a trial with Oxford United come to no avail, before signing professional terms at The Dell in October 1986 ahead of his first-team debut in a 4-3 loss to Norwich City.

His breakthrough season undoubtedly came in 1989/90, as his team finished fifth in the old First Division whilst he was named as the PFA's Young Player of the Year, before gaining even more notoriety in the early years of the Premier League era.

During his entire professional career, Le Tissier stayed loyal to Saints, scoring 195 times and posting 59 assists in 520 appearances, including a remarkable record of scoring 47 out of his 48 penalty kicks.

Despite reported transfer interest from the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Blackburn Rovers, he would feature in red and white until his last competitive appearance against West Ham United in January 2002, and he has since told Jimmy Bullard how much he earned during his time at the club.

"I was on the YTS scheme when I joined Southampton, so I was on £26 per week," Le Tissier admitted. "I signed my first 'pro' contract for £100 per week in 1986.

"I signed a two-year deal so it went up to £120 in the second year," he added.

"Then I finished in 2002 on £3,500 per week."

When asked by Bullard how he was earning so little despite being an "elite" midfield player, the former Sky Sports pundit continued: "I was only playing at Southampton.

"We had the smallest budget in the league, I think."

Bullard then asked him to imagine what salary he would be earning in the modern game, and Le Tissier jokingly responded: "I can't let myself go there. I'd do my head in."

"I consoled myself that I earned more money in football than people like George Best did. It all goes in circles."

Matt Le Tissier's Southampton FC wage in comparison to 2025/26 squad

As previously mentioned, the difference in player earnings from 2002, in Le Tissier's final season, to 24 years down the line is astronomical.

With his £3,500 per week salary, the playmaker would be Saints' lowest earner in comparison to the entirety of their 2025/26 squad according to Capology's ESTIMATED figures, with Will Smallbone said to collect a £5,000 per week pay packet.

Meanwhile, Republic of Ireland international and a man featuring in Le Tissier's advanced midfield position, £12m summer recruit, Finn Azaz, reportedly tops those charts with a £50,000 per week earning.

However, given the uncertainty currently surrounding Southampton, it would be no surprise at all to see the overall ESTIMATED wage bill figure of £606,500 take a drastic hit heading into 2026/27, where they will also begin with a four-point deduction.