Sunderland following their return to the Premier League, splashed the cash in the transfer market, spending around £170m on 14 new players.
As a result, their annual payroll has increased dramatically to an eye-catching £67.4m per season. But who earns what at the Stadium of Light? Here is what Sunderland are paying their players for the 2025/26 season, as per Capology.
Disclaimer – only the club and the players themselves truly know their wages, so take each of these figures as you will.
1
Granit Xhaka
£110,000
£5,720,000
2
Nordi Mukiele
£100,000
£5,200,000
3
Lutsharel Geertruida
£85,000
£4,420,000
4
Enzo Le Fee
£75,000
£3,900,000
5
Simon Adingra
£70,000
£3,640,000
=6
Omar Alderete
£65,000
£3,380,000
=6
Bertrand Traore
£65,000
£3,380,000
8
Brian Brobbey
£60,000
£3,120,000
9
Arthur Masuaku
£55,000
£2,860,000
=10
Habib Diarra
£50,000
£2,600,000
=10
Reinildo Mandava
£50,000
£2,600,000
12
Trai Hume
£45,000
£2,340,000
=13
Chemsdine Talbi
£40,000
£2,080,000
=13
Noah Sadiki
£40,000
£2,080,000
=15
Chris Rigg
£35,000
£1,820,000
=15
Daniel Ballard
£35,000
£1,820,000
=17
Eliezer Mayenda
£30,000
£1,560,000
=17
Robin Roefs
£30,000
£1,560,000
19
Wilson Isidor
£25,000
£1,300,000
=20
Dennis Cirkin
£20,000
£1,040,000
=20
Anthony Patterson
£20,000
£1,040,000
=20
Ian Poveda
£20,000
£1,040,000
=20
Luke O’Nien
£20,000
£1,040,000
=24
Dan Neil
£15,000
£780,000
=24
Simon Moore
£15,000
£780,000
=24
Timothee Pembele
£15,000
£780,000
=24
Aji Alese
£15,000
£780,000
=24
Blondy Nna Noukeu
£15,000
£780,000
=29
Abdoullah Ba
£10,000
£520,000
=29
Leo Hjelde
£10,000
£520,000
=29
Romaine Mundle
£10,000
£520,000
=29
Jay Matete
£10,000
£520,000
=33
Joe Anderson
£8,000
£416,000
=33
Ahmed Abdullahi
£8,000
£416,000
=35
Milan Aleksic
£5,000
£260,000
=35
Harrison Jones
£5,000
£260,000
=35
Zak Johnson
£5,000
£260,000
38
Nazariy Rusyn
£4,500
£234,000
Here's a detailed look at Sunderland's top 10 earners… 10 Habib Diarra £50,000 per week
Habib Diarra is Sunderland’s record signing after joining in a deal worth £30m from Strasbourg, however, he is only 10th on the list of the Black Cats’ top earners.
The midfielder is under contract until 2030.
9 Arthur Masuaku £55,000 per week
Sunderland were able to offer Arthur Masuaku a £2.86m per year contract in 2025 due to the left-back being a free agent after leaving Turksih side Besiktas.
The left-back penned a two-year contract.
8 Brian Brobbey £60,000 per week
Dutch forward Brian Brobbey cost Sunderland an initial £17.3m from Ajax, signing a four-year deal.
Between 2025-2029, Brobbey is in line to pick up just under £12.5m in wages.
7 Bertrand Traore £65,000 per week
Like Brobbey, Bertrand Traore put pen to paper on a move to Sunderland from Ajax, costing the Black Cats £2.5m.
He arrived with Premier League experience after spells with Chelsea and Aston Villa but is only under contract until 2026.
6 Omar Alderete £65,000 per week
South American centre-back Omar Alderete made the move to Sunderland from La Liga side Getafe, costing around £10m.
A Paraguay international, Alderete, like Traore, is also on £3.38m but is contracted until 2029.
5 Simon Adingra £70,000 per week
Simon Adingra was Sunderland’s second-biggest signing in the summer of 2025, costing £21m from fellow Premier League side Brighton.
He signed a five-year contract and is set to pocket more than £18m in wages between 2025-2030.
4 Enzo Le Fee £75,000 per week
Enzo Le Fee was arguably one of the most eye-catching signings in Championship history, with Regis Le Bris reuniting with the midfielder after their successful stint at Lorient.
The Black Cats signed Le Fee on loan with an option to buy from Roma, something they triggered after promotion.
3 Lutsharel Geertruida £85,000 per week
Defender Lutsharel Geertruida is on loan at the Stadium of Light for the 2025/26 season, with Sunderland covering his £85,000 per week salary.
There is an option for a move to become permanent in 2026 for around £20m.
2 Nordi Mukiele £100,000 per week
One of two Sunderland players picking up £100,000 per week or more is full-back Nordi Mukiele.
The Black Cats sealed a deal with Champions League winners PSG for the French defender, and he is under contract until 2029.
1 Granit Xhaka £110,000 per week
Sunderland’s highest profile signing following promotion was former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka, and he is the top earner at the Stadium of Light on £5.72m per year.
Joining from Bayer Leverkusen, Xhaka signed a three-year deal with the Black Cats.