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

Football League World takes a close look at the top earners at every EFL League Two club

League Two is hardly the most lucrative division in world football, and while financial situations have become emboldened throughout the game on a global scale in recent years, it's English football's fourth-tier where we've often seen clubs go into ruin.

As per a report from administrative group Begbies Traynor - who are currently in situ at Championship strugglers Sheffield Wednesday following Dejphon Chansiri's departure from the club - sides in both League One and League Two are showing signs of serious financial stress.

The likes of Accrington Stanley and Newport County have both endured issues in recent times, while Morecambe were narrowly spared of liquidation after suffering relegation to the National League last term.

But that's not to say that certain fourth-tier outfits aren't capable of pushing the boat out and throwing some serious money in pursuit of their ambitions, either.

With that in mind, then, Football League World has decided to take a closer look at the highest-paid player at every current League Two side in the 2025/26 campaign, drawing on ESTIMATED figures by Salary Sport.

Getting the ball rolling is Accrington Stanley, and three players are all tied as the top-earners in John Doolan's side in Charlie Brown, Conor Grant and Donald Love.

The trio are all believed to be collecting weekly wages of £2,400 at Stanley, which is less than Isaac Heath and Paddy Madden - who are, of course, both only on loan, and it remains unclear how much of their own salaries are being covered by the Lancashire outfit.

Barnet - Anthony Hartigan

It's a similar reported pay-packet that propels Ryan Hartigan to top-earner status at Barnet, who have made a strong impression this term since returning from the National League.

One may have naturally assumed Barnet's highest-paid player to be ex-Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough striker Britt Assombalonga, but instead it's Hartigan, with the 26-year-old midfielder taking home £2,500 each week.

Barrow - Ben Jackson

Barrow, meanwhile, are shelling out some handsome salaries as per the aforementioned data, and it's Ben Jackson who is on the healthiest contract in Cumbria at the time of writing.

Jackson, who made 50 appearances for boyhood club Huddersfield Town before joining Barrow in the summer of 2024, is said to be earning a weekly wage of £3,500.

Bristol Rovers - Luke Southwood

Bristol Rovers' squad contains a litany of big names by League Two standards, featuring many players who have previously played, and indeed thrived at a higher level - and Luke Southwood is no exception.

Formerly of Reading, Bolton Wanderers and Cheltenham Town, the 28-year-old shot-stopper is in his first campaign at the Memorial Stadium, where his reported £5,000 weekly salary puts him above the likes of Fabrizio Cavegn and Jack Sparkes.

Bromley - Ben Thompson

Although an assumption for Michael Cheek or Mitch Pinnock being Bromley's top-earners could well have been made, that mantle actually goes to ex-Millwall midfielder Ben Thompson.

The 30-year-old boasts impressive pedigree above League Two and has justified his weekly earnings of £3,500 by assisting Bromley's shock automatic promotion charge, having notably notched a hat-trick in his side's 4-1 win away to Gillingham at the end of January.

Cambridge United - Dominic Ball

Moving onto another top-three aspirant in Cambridge United, the leading earner in Neil Harris' ranks is said to be Dominic Ball.

That's perhaps no real surprise considering the midfielder's extensive Championship experience, having featured for both QPR and Ipswich Town in successive promotion campaigns under Kieran McKenna before dropping down to the fourth-tier last summer, where he's earning £4,400 each week.

Adam Mayor is described as earning marginally more, but with the wide-man only on loan from Millwall, Ball remains the highest-paid permanent player at Cambridge.

Cheltenham Town - Ben Stevenson

At Cheltenham Town, meanwhile, the top-paid player this season is said to be Ben Stevenson following his arrival last October.

The midfielder has proven to be a shrewd acquisition for the Robins thus far and is the highest-paid permanent player at the club with a weekly wage of £3,500, with loanee Isaac Hutchinson in receipt of a larger salary - albeit on his Bristol Rovers contract.

Chesterfield - Dylan Duffy, Dilan Markanday

Two players are tied at the top of Chesterfield's earning list, with Dylan Duffy and Dilan Markanday both reportedly collecting weekly £4,400 pay packets.

The impressive pair have shone on either flank under Paul Cook this season, and Markanday's wage in particular is little surprise in light of his second-tier experience at Blackburn Rovers.

Colchester United - Jack Payne

For play-off hopefuls Colchester United, the highest-paid player is Jack Payne as he continues to take home a weekly salary of £4,100.

Another player with a previous body of work above the level, the talented attacking midfielder was inspired during his first season at Colchester last term, scoring eight league goals and setting up a further 10, and has been similarly impressive this time around.

Crawley Town - Joe Wollacott

Rather interestingly, Crawley Town's highest present earner reportedly comes in the form of second-choice goalkeeper Joe Wollacott.

Wollacott's 12 caps at senior international level for Ghana makes for impressive reading, although he's lost his place between the sticks this season, meaning Crawley are hardly receiving a positive return on investment for his weekly wages of £4,100.