The top 12 highest paid strikers in the EFL Championship | OneFootball

FLW have looked at which strikers have been paid the most to deliver goals for their sides

The Championship has been full of great players throughout history and indeed the current season - one which hasn't let us down in terms of drama and excitement levels either.

At both ends of the table we have witnessed several clubs fighting it out to achieve their short and long-term goals, whether that is promotion back to the Premier League or avoiding a disastrous relegation to League One.

As well as providing core memories for supporters and all associated with the clubs, promotion or relegation is often surrounded by the talk of finance, something which has become extremely prominent in the modern game as a result of regulations from governing bodies such as the EFL.

One of the main talking points also comes as a result of how much money players are paid these days, and whether their on-pitch performances justify their salaries.

With that in mind, Football League World have looked at the 12 highest-paid strikers in the Championship for the 2025/26 campaign, according to ESTIMATED FIGURES from Capology.

12 ? ? Daryl Dike - West Bromwich Albion

Beginning this list as the 12th highest-paid striker in the Championship is West Bromwich Albion's American forward, Daryl Dike, who is believed to collect a weekly sum of £25,000 at The Hawthorns.

Since signing in January 2022 in a deal worth approximately £7m, the 25-year-old has been hit by multiple long-term injuries that have limited his gametime to just 68 appearances, scoring 11 times in the process.

Dike signed a four-and-a-half year deal at the time of his arrival from Orlando City, meaning he is currently out-of-contract on June 30th, and it remains to be seen if he will remain a part of James Morrison's long-term plans in B71 after playing in all of the final 11 matches of 2025/26 as Albion secured their survival despite a controversial points deduction.

Next up is Chuba Akpom, who hasn't exactly justified an ESTIMATED £26,000 per week wage in his first season on the books of Ipswich Town.

Just three years ago, the experienced forward was the Championship's Golden Boot winner with Middlesbrough, whereas now his arrival in Suffolk may go down as a costly mishap despite the club's immediate return to the Premier League.

As a result of their success, Town are obliged to pay £7m to Ajax as a result of a clause inserted in the aforementioned loan move, even though Akpom has only scored twice across all competitions this term, whilst also not starting a league fixture since New Year's Day.

10 ? ? George Hirst - Ipswich Town

In 10th place is one of Akpom's Portman Road colleagues, George Hirst, who is said to be collecting a weekly wage sum of £27,500.

The Scotland international has now scored 30 times in 125 appearances for the Tractor Boys, being a cornerstone of three sides which have clinched promotion under Kieran McKenna's management - two of which have been to the Premier League.

After finding it tough in the top-flight in 2024/25 with just three goals in 26 appearances, the 27-year-old will hope to help Town prove the doubters wrong in an expected survival battle.

9 ? ? Jordan Ayew - Leicester City

Meanwhile, much has been made of Leicester City's drastic plight from the Premier League to League One in successive seasons under a backdrop of financial uncertainty, and it is expected that several high-profile earners will be moved on to help balance the books.

One of those is experienced Ghanaian forward, Jordan Ayew, whose ESTIMATED wage figure falls at the £30,000 per week mark at the King Power Stadium.

Although hardly any of the Foxes players have endeared themselves to their supporters in recent times, Ayew was still the club's highest-scoring natural central striker, netting just five goals in 42 Championship appearances behind the duo of Abdul Fatawu and Jordan James.

8 ? ? Kieffer Moore - Wrexham

Another club that attracts plenty of media attention due to finances are Wrexham, with Kieffer Moore featuring on this list as a result of his club-high £30,000 per week wage.

The Welsh international has enjoyed a remarkable first season at the Stok Cae Ras after signing from Sheffield United for £2m last August, scoring 11 times in 38 league appearances, including a memorable hat-trick versus eventual champions, Coventry City.

However, after missing out on promotion with the Blades 12 months ago, the 33-year-old has done so again this time around as the Red Dragons were beaten to a spot in the play-offs by Hull City on the final day of the regular season.

7 ? ? Jacob Brown - Portsmouth

Perhaps a surprise inclusion on this list is Jacob Brown, who spent the second half of the campaign on loan at Portsmouth from Luton Town of League One whilst continuing to earn an ESTIMATED £30,000 sum too.

After featuring just seven times for the Hatters before his temporary switch, the 28-year-old made over twice as many appearances for Pompey post-January, but only scored once during said timeframe.

However, it now remains to be seen where the attacker's long-term future lies as Luton missed out on a spot in the third tier play-offs under Jack Wilshere on the final day of the season.

6 ? ? Danny Ings - Sheffield United

One player who will not be at his current club come June 30th, though, is the experienced Danny Ings, who saw his pending Sheffield United exit confirmed after the final day win at Derby County.

The three-time England international will free up an ESTIMATED £30,000 on the wage bill at Bramall Lane as a result, having played just 23 times after initially being signed as a free agent by Ruben Selles.

However, both of his goals would come under Chris Wilder's management versus Norwich City and Hull City respectively.

5 ? ? Patrick Bamford - Sheffield United

However, another former Three Lions forward who will continue to earn an ESTIMATED £30,000 sum is Patrick Bamford, who has made a strong impression in S2 despite his interesting prior relationship with Wilder.

After being signed on a short-term contract in November, the 32-year-old did enough to see his terms extended by a further 18 months, and he has since ended the season on 13 goals in his first 29 appearances for the Blades, which will offer encouragement heading into a full pre-season and overall campaign with the club.

4 ? ? Mathias Kvistgaarden - Norwich City

The final name on this list believed to be on a weekly salary of £30,000 is Norwich City's Mathias Kvistgaarden, who was signed from Brondby for a reported £6.9m fee on a four-year contract last July.

Unfortunately for the 24-year-old, it hasn't been the smoothest of first seasons at Carrow Road despite the Canaries' eventual resurgence up the table under Philippe Clement.

Just one third of his league appearances have come from the starting lineup, albeit he has managed to score six goals in that timeframe, which is a respectable return all things considered.

3 ? ? Kyogo Furuhashi - Birmingham City

Next up is potentially one of the most talked about signings of the season for all the wrong reasons, as Kyogo Furuhashi's first term at Birmingham City has been extremely underwhelming.

The 23-time Japan international's recent struggles after leaving Celtic have continued, despite the fact Blues had struck a deal worth up to £10m for his services on a three-year contract.

Ultimately, the forward has scored three goals in all competitions across 31 appearances, and saw his campaign curtailed in April through a shoulder issue.