Middlesbrough: Which player is Steve Gibson estimated to be paying the most weekly? | OneFootball

We took a look at which Boro player is earning the most money this season

Middlesbrough got their season back on track with a 2-0 home win against Stoke City on Saturday and all of a sudden things seem a lot rosier at the Riverside Stadium, with Boro now just two points off the play-offs.

Michael Carrick's side have made an inconsistent start to the season, but many people tipped them for a big campaign, and they'll be looking for a play-off finish this season as they look to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2017.

Boro have a good squad for Championship level, and owner Steve Gibson hasn't been afraid to put his hand into his pocket and back the club in a bid to return to the Premier League.

Gibson has taken quite a sensible approach recently by signing experienced Championship players like Tommy Conway and Luke Ayling in the summer rather than splashing cash on unproven targets in the hope that they'll pay off, and the Middlesbrough-born businessman will be hoping that this approach will pay dividends come May.

With that in mind, we've taken a look at which current player Gibson is paying the most as Boro owner.

Luke Ayling is Middlesbrough's highest-paid player this season

It must be stressed that the date we are using is from Capology, and while it might not be 100% accurate, it still provides us with a useful insight into player wages.

According to the 2024-25 Middlesbrough salaries on Capology, summer signing Luke Ayling is the player Gibson is paying the most, with a reported weekly wage of £30,000.

The ex-Leeds United man joined Boro on a short-term loan back in January before completing a permanent switch to the Riverside Stadium on a free transfer, and the 33-year-old is the highest-paid player at the club, with his estimated £30,000 weekly wage meaning he's earning £1,560,000 annually.

Given his experience in both the Premier League and the Championship, it's clear that he's a player that adds a lot to the Boro squad, and Gibson appears happy to fork out a considerable amount of money to have him at the club.

Ayling's estimated £30,000 a week is followed by Jonny Howson on £25,000 a week, with summer signings Neto Borges and Delano Burgzorg below that with their estimated £20,000 a week.

Star striker Emmanuel Latte Lath is yet to really find form this season, but he's on an estimated weekly wage of just £10,000, surprising given his 18-goal haul last season, while summer signing Tommy Conway is on just £10,000 too, a third of Ayling's wage.

Luke Ayling will be worth every penny if he gets Boro promoted

Despite being 33 and arguably past his prime, Ayling is still an excellent player and has a wealth of experience at this level, which will come in handy.

The former Leeds man has started all of Boro's games this season, wearing the captain's armband on each occasion, and it's clear to see that his leadership and Championship nous are crucial for Carrick's side.

After leading the Whites to the Premier League in 2020 and being a key player during their years in the top-flight, Ayling has an impressive CV, and the estimated £30,000 a week wage shows that Boro were clearly desperate to secure his signature and were willing to make him the highest paid player to do so.

It's a lot of money, particularly for a 33-year-old, but his leadership has already proved invaluable this season, and if he continues to play like he has done this season and can lead them to the Premier League, then it would be worth every penny.