The highest-paid player at every EFL Championship club in 2026 | OneFootball

FLW has looked at the top earner at each Championship club following the recent closure of the transfer window

The world of football finance has become extremely prevalent in recent seasons, with several clubs across England and world football enduring financial success or disaster.

Ironically, the Championship has been one of the divisions which has gained widespread attention on the aforementioned topic in recent times, such is the strong mix of clubs with strong previous history and current ambition.

The second tier has also become a hotbed for talent to express themselves before either reaching the Premier League on an individual basis through a big-money transfer, or through the eventual success of their current employers.

With that being said, there was plenty of activity in the recently-closed transfer window that has slightly altered the financial landscape of the division in terms of fees paid by clubs, as well as the wages on offer.

As such, Football League World have looked into who is believed to be the highest-paid player at each of the 24 clubs in the division, using ESTIMATED figures from Capology.

Birmingham City - Carlos Vicente

According to the aforementioned data, Birmingham City's highest-paid player is now £7m January recruit, Carlos Vicente.

The 26-year-old joined Blues from Deportivo Alaves during an extremely active winter window, and after a strong first half of the season for the Basque side, he will be hoping to fire his new employers into the play-off places at the end of his first half-season at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park.

Blackburn Rovers - Todd Cantwell

Blackburn Rovers have endured a difficult season thus far, and it could have potentially been worse if the East Lancashire side couldn't call upon Todd Cantwell's creative spark.

The two-time promotion winner is currently the top earner at Ewood Park, taking home a reported wage packet of £30,000 per week, which may surprise a few, given Rovers' well-documented and long-standing ownership and financial uncertainties.

Bristol City - Delano Burgzorg / Luke McNally / Neto Borges

Three players reportedly earn £20,000 per week at Bristol City, and two of those are in the form of Middlesbrough loanees Neto Borges and Delano Burzorg.

The other player taking home the highest eight-figure sum currently on offer at Ashton Gate is centre-back Luke McNally, who has endured an extremely frustrating recent period.

The Irishman sustained a serious ACL injury 12 months ago, and is still working his way back towards a return to full fitness and competitive action.

Charlton Athletic - Conor Coady

The highest earner within Nathan Jones' Charlton Athletic squad is Conor Coady, with the experienced centre-back recently joining the South London side on loan for the remainder of the season on £25,000 per week.

A 10-cap England international, the Liverpudlian made his Addicks bow against former club Leicester City on January 31st, and he will hope his experience can steer the Addicks to safety.

Furthermore, the highest-paid permanent player at The Valley is Thomas Kaminski, who earns £5,000 less than Coady.

There are a quartet of Coventry City players currently earning the club's highest wage of £25,000 per week.

The first of those comes in the form of summer signing, Luke Woolfenden, and the centre-back is joined alongside Matt Grimes, Haji Wright and Ellis Simms on that particular front.

Wright, of course, currently remains the Sky Blues' record signing, having joined from Antalyaspor for £7.7m in 2023.

Derby County - Sammie Szmodics / Ben Brereton Diaz / Carlton Morris

Three Derby County players are earning a club-high wage of £25,000 per week too, with two of those being loanees in the form of Sammie Szmodics and Ben Brereton Diaz.

However, the Rams' highest-paid permanent player is summer signing, Carlton Morris.

Hull City - John Lundstram

Despite being under transfer restrictions, Hull City have earned high praise for their recruitment this season.

One of their new recruits also takes the crown of top earner at the MKM Stadium in the form of Trabzonspor loanee, John Lundstram, who is on a £45,500 per week salary throughout his temporary stint from the Turkish Süper Lig side.

Ipswich Town - Dara O'Shea / Leif Davis / Jens Cajuste

Ipswich Town are another club who have multiple players earning the club's highest salary.

Defensive duo Dara O'Shea and Leif Davis have been joined alongside Napoli loanee, Jens Cajuste, on a wage of £35,000 per week, highlighting the strength of the finances at Town's disposal after being relegated from the Premier League last season.

Leicester City - Harry Winks

However, such a sum pales in comparison to the wages which Leicester City are paying Harry Winks, who is the Championship's highest-paid player on £90,000 per week.

The former England international has been earning such a staggering sum whilst barely featuring for the Foxes this season, whilst the club were hit with a six-point deduction at the start of February due to financial breaches.

Middlesbrough - Matt Targett

Up next is the division's highest-paid loanee, with Middlesbrough defender Matt Targett earning £60,000 per week whilst on a temporary stint away from Newcastle United.

However, with Boro boasting one of the division's best defensive records amid their automatic promotion bid under Kim Hellberg, the short-term acquisition of the versatile and experienced defender has been worth it.