The top 12 highest paid strikers in EFL League One | OneFootball

Football League World takes a look at the 12 highest-paid strikers in EFL League One for the 2025/26 season

League One played witness to several talented strikers throughout the 2026/27 season, including golden boot winner Dom Ballard and Stockport County hotshot Kyle Wooton.

The third tier brought plenty of excitement this season, and no League One observer could have predicted at the start of the campaign that Lincoln would take home the title, earning a stunning tally of 103 points along the way.

Other surprises included the fact that Stevenage landed a top-six spot, while last season's play-off finalists, Leyton Orient, narrowly avoided relegation.

Despite Orient's struggles, Ballard managed a remarkable return of 23 goals and four assists in 40 league appearances, and the East Londoners may have to bid farewell to him in the summer transfer window.

The 21-year-old was far from the only exciting forward in League One this term, though, with the likes of Plymouth Argyle duo Lorent Tolaj and Bim Pepple causing opponents all sorts of problems.

Tolaj and Pepple have both attracted high-profile transfer interest ahead of the summer window, proving their class, even if Tom Cleverley's men fell short of a play-off place.

Away from Devon, there were also plenty of strikers who showcased their prolific talents, such as Joe Taylor, whose goals while on loan with Wigan Athletic in the second half of the campaign helped keep the Latics in the third tier.

Cardiff City's successful automatic promotion bid was spearheaded by the attacking efforts of Yousef Salech, who scored 14 goals in 34 third-tier appearances, adding to the feeling that strikers have had a season to remember.

With that in mind, using estimated wages provided by Salary Sport, Football League World has ranked the 12 highest-paid strikers in League One for the 2025/26 season.

12 ? ? Sam Dalby

Sam Dalby joined Bolton Wanderers from Wrexham last summer, and helped the Greater Manchester club land a play-off spot by notching 11 goals and five assists in 41 third-tier appearances.

The 26-year-old takes home an estimated wage of £7,600 a week.

Before joining Bolton last summer, Dalby performed well while on loan at Dundee United from Wrexham last term, scoring 15 goals in 35 Scottish Premiership appearances.

11 ? ? Yousef Salech

As previously mentioned, Cardiff successfully booked their place in next season's Championship alongside League One title winners Lincoln.

Salech played a central role in those efforts, and he will hope to help the Bluebirds survive in the second tier next term, which is something that his previous experience can help with.

The 24-year-old earns an estimated £8,000 per week and will want to prove himself as a reliable goalscorer in the Championship next term.

10 ? ? Jordan Hugill

Jordan Hugill's goal drought was a contributing factor towards Rotherham's relegation from League One to League Two.

Even though the former Preston North End man scored just two goals in the third tier this season, he is one of the division's best-paid strikers, enjoying a weekly wage of £8,100, as per Salary Sport.

The 33-year-old has never been prolific in Millers colours and will be more fondly remembered for his efforts by both Queens Park Rangers and Preston supporters.

9 ? ? Dale Taylor

Northern Ireland international Dale Taylor produced a return of three goals and two assists in 19 League One appearances for Blackpool, having joined from Nottingham Forest last summer.

According to estimates, the former Wigan loan star earns £9,100 per week while plying his trade for Ian Evatt's side.

As per the Blackpool Gazette, the Lancashire club paid £1million to sign Taylor from Forest, so they will hope that he is a more reliable asset next season.

8 ? ? Niall Ennis

Taylor is not the only Blackpool man who has been one of League One's best-paid strikers during the 2026/27 season, as teammate Niall Ennis takes home an estimated weekly wage of £8,900.

The former Stoke City man scored six goals in 26 third-tier appearances this term, and will look to better those figures next campaign, with the Seasiders vying for a better league position than the 20th-place finish they have managed this time around.

7 ? ? Nahki Wells

Nahki Wells is an EFL journeyman who has previously played for the likes of Bradford City, Huddersfield Town, and Bristol City.

The 35-year-old scored five goals and registered three assists in League One for Luton Town this term, but it wasn't enough to fire the Hatters to a play-off place.

As per Salary Sport, Wells receives a weekly pay of £9,000, and he will vie to be more prolific next term, having scored 10 Championship goals for Bristol City in the 2024/25 season, helping them land a play-off spot.

6 ? ? Lorent Tolaj

As aforementioned, Tolaj has been one of the best strikers in League One this season, and notched an impressive return of 18 goals and eight assists in 33 third-tier outings for Plymouth Argyle.

Since joining the Pilgrims from Port Vale last summer, the 24-year-old has been earning an estimated wage of £9,000 a week.

Tolaj has attracted transfer interest from Championship clubs such as Millwall, meaning Plymouth may struggle to retain his services, having missed out on a League One play-off spot.

5 ? ? Joe Taylor

Similarly to Tolaj, Taylor has been one of League One's main talking points since the turn of the year, thanks to his rich goalscoring form.

The 23-year-old scored 11 goals in 21 third-tier appearances while on loan at Wigan from Huddersfield Town, which proved enough to keep the Latics in the division.

Football League World have exclusively revealed that Oxford and Preston are interested in Taylor's services, while he earns £9,100 a week according to Salary Sport.

4 ? ? 4 - Dion Charles

While Taylor excelled in front of goal on loan at Wigan, fellow Huddersfield striker Dion Charles failed to produce the goods in Terriers colours.

The former Bolton man scored just two goals in 29 League One appearances for the West Yorkshire side this term, which contributed to the fact that they couldn't finish in the play-offs.

Charles takes home a weekly wage of £9,400, according to estimates, which is something that may frustrate Huddersfield supporters, given his lack of form this term.

3 ? ? Elijah Adebayo

Elijah Adebayo was a genuine asset for Luton during their 2023/24 Premier League campaign, scoring 10 goals despite their instant relegation back to the Championship.

However, the 28-year-old subsequently struggled in the second tier last term and has only made two appearances in League One this season, thanks to injury struggles.