The worst-kept secret in football finally looks to be out after Aaron Ramsey reportedly signed a pre-contract agreement to move to Juventus in the summer.
The Welshman was in high demand, and is set to earn a huge wage for his time in Turin. With that in mind, it does beg the question – where will Ramsey fit in amongst Britain’s highest paid players once he is officially unveiled?
Here, we look at eight of the highest paid British players in world football and where Ramsey stands to fit in..
9. Kyle Walker – £130,000 Per Week
In recent years, Kyle Walker has established himself as one of the Premier League’s finest right-backs. His impressive form with Tottenham Hotspur prompted Manchester City to shell out a whopping £54m to sign him in 2017.
Once he’d made the move, The Daily Mailreport that Walker agreed a bumper contract which will see him pocket a cool £130,000 per week until the summer of 2022.
He has been a vital part of Pep Guardiola’s defence ever since he arrived, which is why City did not hesitate to invest in the 28-year-old.
8. Gary Cahill – £130,000 Per Week
Whilst City might be getting good value for their money with Walker, things are certainly not the same for Gary Cahill at Chelsea.
After years as a key player at Stamford Bridge, Cahill signed a new contract at Chelsea in 2015, with the Express reporting that Cahill earns £130,000 per week in West London.
He remained a vital part of the Blues’ side for several years, but has been forced into a reserve role under Maurizio Sarri and has seen just 21 minutes of Premier League action this season. Cahill is certainly one of Chelsea’s most iconic players in recent years, but looks set to move on when his contract expires in the summer.
7. Ross Barkley – £150,000 Per Week
Staying at Stamford Bridge, Ross Barkley joins Cahill as one of the highest earning British players. The 25-year-old, who moved to Chelsea in January 2018, has been a regular part of Sarri’s side this season, showing glimpses of his impressive potential.
After securing a £15m move from Everton, The Daily Mail claim that Barkley agreed terms worth £150,000 per week at the club.
Barkley enjoyed an impressive start to the season, earning himself a place back in Gareth Southgate’s England squad, and he will be keen to justify his lofty wage going forward.
6. Luke Shaw – £195,000 Per Week
The life of a footballer can be somewhat of a roller coaster ride, and there are few better examples of this than Luke Shaw.
After emerging as one of the country’s most exciting prospects with Southampton, Shaw secured an expensive move to Manchester United in 2014, but found himself struggling to impress, partly due to a combination of injuries and fitness.
However, he looks back to his best this season and United opted to prove their faith in Shaw with a new, bumper contract. According to the Mirror, Shaw now takes home £195,000 per week, enough to make him the sixth-highest earner on this list.
5. Harry Kane – £200,000 Per Week
Tottenham Hotspur’s wage structure is the stuff of infamy. Their reluctance to offer massive wages has led many to claim that Tottenham will struggle to compete with Europe’s elite sides. However, they shattered their regular wage structure when they renewed Harry Kane’s deal in the summer of 2018.
Undoubtedly one of the world’s finest strikers, Tottenham showed a sign of their intent when they gave Kane a new contract which, according to the Telegraph, is worth an impressive £200,000-a-week
The 25-year-old is currently level with Mohamed Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at the top of the Premier League’s scoring charts, and his huge contract looks to be a smart piece of business for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
4. Wayne Rooney – £250,000 Per Week
British players may be earning a breathtaking amount in the Premier League, but massive earners can be found overseas as well, just ask Wayne Rooney.
After falling out of favour at Everton, Rooney made the switch to Major League Soccer side D.C. United where, according to Goal, he picks up a huge £250,000-a-week salary.
His move to the USA was a monumental moment for the country’s football legacy, and he rewarded his new team with 12 goals and six assists from his first 20 appearances.
3. Raheem Sterling – £300,000 Per Week
Under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola, Raheem Sterling has proven to be one of the Premier League’s top talents. The winger is a vital part of City’s side and has cemented himself as one of the first names on City’s teamsheet.
Players who can make such a contribution are hard to find, and City recognised that when they tied Sterling to a new contract in late 2018. According to The Daily Mail, Sterling became one of the world’s highest paid footballers when he agreed on a new £300,000-a-week salary.
He is now under contract at the Etihad until 2023 and, at just 24-years-old, many expect Sterling to stay at the top of his game for the foreseeable future.
2. Aaron Ramsey – £300,000 Per Week
Once Ramsey moves to Juventus at the end of the season, he will move level with Sterling as the second-highest paid British footballer in the world.
The Times claim that Ramsey will pocket £300,000 per week over the next four years when he moves to Italy, thought to be almost three times higher than his current wage at Arsenal. The figure will be dramatically reduced after tax, however, which perhaps an indication of why his gross salary is so high.
With the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Chelsea all believed to be keen on a free transfer for Ramsey, Juventus have seemingly taken the necessary steps to tempt the Welshman to the Serie A.
1. Gareth Bale – £350,000 Per Week
As one of the biggest names in football at one of the world’s top clubs, it should come as no surprise that Gareth Bale sits atop this list.
After signing a new contract with Real Madrid in 2016, Bale firmly established himself as Britain’s highest paid footballer, with The Times claiming that the Welshman earns a breathtaking £350,000 per week at the Bernabeu.
Widely regarded as one of the world’s finest wingers, Bale is under contract in Madrid until 2022, meaning he is set to lead his fellow Brits for at least a few more years.
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