How Cardiff City and Swansea’s wage bills really compare ahead of 2026/27 | OneFootball

The South Wales derby will be a Championship fixture once more

After the conclusion of the 2025/26 Championship season, supporters of the 24 clubs in the division next term are just a few weeks away from putting 46 more dates in their respective diaries.

Indeed, due to the different stature of clubs in the second tier for 2026/27, which is perhaps best showcased by the relegations and promotions of West Ham United and Lincoln City from the Premier League and League One, many believe that it could very much be a season to remember.

Of course, there is also the well-documented change in the promotion structure to consider, which sees an increase in the number of teams participating in the play-offs from four to six teams, as well as the numerous derbies and rivalries to be played out.

There are many great reasons for being a supporter of any club, but the feeling of seeing your team emerge victorious in a local, or somewhat national, feud, would provide indescribable feelings of joy, as well as despair if you are on the wrong side of the pendulum.

Among the plethora of rivalries in next season's Championship is the South Wales derby between Cardiff City and Swansea City, with the Bluebirds regaining their second tier status at the first time of asking under Brian Barry-Murphy.

The Swans, meanwhile, endured a campaign of mixed fortunes under Alan Sheehan and Vitor Matos, despite having the services of in-demand Golden Boot winner, Zan Vipotnik, although there will be hope that the Portuguese can steer the Swans further towards the promotion picture in his first full season at the club.

With both clubs having intriguing ownership structures at present, Football League World have looked at how the rivals' wage bills compare ahead of 2026/27.

Swansea City's wage bill as an established Championship side heading into 2026/27

Despite being a Championship club for the past eight years, Capology ESTIMATES that the Swans had the sixth-lowest wage bill in the division throughout 2025/26.

Those figures come in at a weekly ESTIMATED figure of £281,500 and an annual sum of £14.63m, despite the fact the hierarchy at the Swansea.Com Stadium includes Croatian midfield ace, Luka Modrić, and American music sensation, Snoop Dogg.

Despite their relegation to League One, it is said that Leicester City had the highest wage bill in the division with a weekly sum of £820,500, which was £539,000 greater than that of Swansea's, who finished in 11th, nine points short of sixth-placed, and eventual play-off winners, Hull City.

Those ESTIMATES also showcase that summer signings, Cameron Burgess and Adam Idah, are the top earners in this part of Wales with respective £25,000 per week salaries, although the latter is yet to fully justify his £6m switch from Celtic last September.

Cardiff City's wage bill isn't too far behind Swansea City's after League One promotion

Meanwhile, down the M4, it is ESTIMATED by Salary Sport that Cardiff boasted a weekly wage bill of £263,240 per week in League One, which equates to a seasonal figure of £13.68m.

Such figures mean that Swansea's current wage structure is only £18,260 greater than their bitter rivals at this moment in time, although those numbers could change by the time the Championship season kickstarts in mid-August due to transfer activity.

According to Salary Sport, the top earner at the Cardiff City Stadium was Chelsea loanee, Omari Kellyman, on a £34,000 per week figure, whilst Calum Chambers was the highest-paid permanent member of Barry-Murphy's largely youthful squad on £32,000 per week.

Of course, there is also the added spice of both Cardiff and Swansea having to compete in a three-way Welsh battle with Wrexham, who will be expected to invest heavily again after missing out on the play-off places on the final day.

Meanwhile, when the South Wales outfits lock horns once again, it will be a first meeting since January 2025, when the Bluebirds emerged 3-0 victors on home turf under Omer Riza, despite the fact their relegation was confirmed just three months later.