The top 10 highest paid midfielders in EFL League One | OneFootball

Football League World takes a look at the top 10 highest-paid midfielders in League One

League One has witnessed several talented midfielders throughout the 2026/27 season, with Conor McGrandles and Tom Bayliss playing a key role in Lincoln City's historic title triumph.

Cardiff City clinched automatic promotion to the Championship alongside the Imps, with the likes of Wales international Rubin Colwill impressing in the middle of the park for the Bluebirds.

Outside the top two, Barnsley endured an underwhelming campaign, finishing 15th, but Luca Connell's midfield performances were a pleasure for all third-tier observers to watch.

Meanwhile, Doncaster Rovers landed a lower mid-table finish alongside the Tykes, but attacking midfielder Owen Bailey produced some thrilling performances, notching 13 goals and four assists in 46 League One appearances.

Following a season to remember, Football League World has taken a look at the 10 highest-paid midfielders in the third tier for the 2025/26 third-tier campaign, using estimates from Salary Sport.

10 ? ? Jordan Clark - £8,100

Jordan Clark has represented Luton Town in League One, the Championship, and the Premier League, and he was a particularly important figure for the Hatters this term.

The 32-year-old produced a career-best return of 13 goals and five assists across all competitions, while he was the top scorer for Jack Wilshere's men in the third tier.

Luton missed out on the play-off places by just one point, but Clark was still rewarded with a handsome estimated wage of £8,100 for his efforts.

9 ? ? Marcus McGuane - £9,000

Marcus McGuane has enjoyed a varied football career, which has seen him play for both Arsenal and Barcelona as well as EFL outfits Oxford United, Bristol City, and Huddersfield Town.

The 27-year-old has made just 15 appearances for the Terriers since joining them last summer, and will hope to have a bigger impact next season, with the West Yorkshire outfit eyeing a Championship return.

Huddersfield have endured a turbulent League One season, which saw former boss Lee Grant sacked and replaced by Liam Manning, who was subsequently granted compassionate leave.

Former Leeds United and Birmingham City ace Tyler Roberts also earns £9,000 a week, as per Salary Sport estimates, while he now plies his trade for Mansfield Town.

The attacking midfielder scored four goals and produced one assist in 19 League One appearances this season, helping the Stags finish 10th in League One.

Alongside their third-tier exploits, Nigel Clough's men also reached the fifth round of the FA Cup, where they were narrowly beaten by Arsenal.

7 ? ? George Honeyman - £9,200

George Honeyman signed for League One outfit Blackpool last summer, while he is also a well-known figure among Championship supporters, thanks to his previous Millwall and Hull City exploits.

The attack-minded 31-year-old scored just two goals in 33 third-tier appearances for the Seasiders this term, and will hope to be more productive next season.

Blackpool finished the campaign strongly, with four successive wins, and will hope to trouble the play-off spots in Ian Evatt's first full season in charge.

6 ? ? Alex Lowry - £9,500

Wycombe Wanderers attacking midfielder Alex Lowry will hope to produce the goods more regularly next season, having notched one goal and one assist in 15 League One appearances this term.

The Chairboys ultimately failed in their quest to land a third-tier play-off spot, finishing 11th in the table, 12 points below sixth-place Stevenage.

Wycombe enjoyed a 3-2 victory over relegated Rotherham United on the final day of the campaign, but previously endured a five-game winless run.

The 22-year-old previously represented both Rangers and Hearts in the Scottish Premiership before joining Wanderers in January 2025.

5 ? ? Rubin Colwill - £10,000

Like his club, Cardiff, Colwill has become accustomed to plying his trade in the Championship in recent seasons, but excelled in League One instead this term.

The 24-year-old played his part in the Bluebirds' promotion-clinching efforts by scoring eight goals and registering six assists in 31 third-tier appearances.

Cardiff boss Brian Barry-Murphy will need the likes of Colwill to be at their best if the South Wales club are to enjoy a successful Championship campaign next term.

4 ? ? John McAtee - £10,000

Joining Colwill on an estimated wage of £10,000 a week is Bolton Wanderers star John McAtee, who previously represented Luton, Barnsley, and Grimsby Town.

McAtee notched 11 goals and three assists during the 2024/25 League One season, but he has been less productive in the third-tier this term, scoring just two goals while registering one assist in the regular campaign.

The 26-year-old was also sent off against Plymouth Argyle on Good Friday, but Wanderers have had a campaign to remember, finishing fifth.

3 ? ? Alex Robertson - £13,000

Alex Robertson has excelled in a deep-lying midfield role for Cardiff this term, while he has also scored six goals and produced three assists in 34 League One appearances.

The 23-year-old represented the Bluebirds in the Championship last season, and his second-tier experience could be key for Barry-Murphy's men next season.

Robertson's most notable performances of the 2025/26 campaign came on 31 January, when he scored a brace in an entertaining 2-2 draw with Burton Albion.

2 ? ? ???????George Saville - £13,000

George Saville enjoys the same estimated weekly wage as Robertson, while the 32-year-old notched two goals and five assists in League One for Luton this season.

When the Hatters signed Saville last summer, they would have expected that the former Millwall and Middlesbrough man could help them on their way to promotion back to the Championship.

Despite the presence of the former Chelsea academy player, the Hatters ultimately had to settle for a seventh-place finish in League One and will have to wait at least another year before returning to the second tier.

1 ? ? David Turnbull - £17,000

David Turnbull is another Cardiff player who has enjoyed a successful, promotion-winning League One this season, while he was the highest-paid midfielder in the third tier for the 2025/26 season, as per Salary Sport estimates.

The former Celtic man previously struggled in the Championship with the Bluebirds, but can now return to the second tier with confidence behind him, having performed well in the third tier.

While Turnbull helped Cardiff win promotion, his most notable moment of the campaign came when he scored against Chelsea in the EFL Cup quarter-finals.

The Bluebirds ultimately lost 3-1 to the Stamford Bridge outfit, then managed by former Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca, on 13 December, thanks to late goals from Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho.