10 Premier League rookies with the highest salaries for 2023–24: Arsenal dominate

Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United are just a few of the Premier League clubs that have made significant summer investments in anticipation of the 2023–24 season.

Manchester City, Chelsea, and cash-rich Newcastle United all appear in the top 10, despite Manchester City’s position of strength following its treble-winning campaign last year and Chelsea’s concentration on player sales.

We’ve looked at the data on Capology and ranked the top 10 employees by their weekly salaries.

=9. Andre Onana (Man Utd, £120k) 

Manchester United swooped for Internazionale and Cameroon goalkeeper Onana in a deal that is thought to be worth £47 million after their acrimonious break-up with David de Gea.

The last season’s Champions League finalist has been granted a weekly salary to match his potential box office appeal. He is gifted with quick responses and even quicker feet.

=9. Dominik Szoboszai (Liverpool, £120k)

Despite Liverpool’s obvious need for a midfield makeover this summer, many onlookers were surprised by the purchase of Szoboszai.

With his achievements for RB Leipzig, the midfielder has drawn adoring glances from all around Europe. At the age of 22, he currently serves as captain of the Hungary national team.

There’s a good chance we’ll learn Liverpool scored a £60 million steal.

=6. Mateo Kovacic (Man City, £150k) 

After Ilkay Gundogan left, Manchester City needed a technically sound midfielder who could compete against any opposition without having to choose Kalvin Phillips.

Kovacic fortunately became available after declaring his want to quit Chelsea. Pep Guardiola will reimagine the Croatian international as an inverted center-back after the two teams reached an oddly low-key agreement. Probably.

=6. Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa, £150k) 

Due to Leicester City’s relegation, their key players had to leave; James Maddison quickly joined Spurs, while Harvey Barnes opted to play for Newcastle in the Champions League.

Tielemans departed the King Power at the conclusion of his contract in May and traveled across the Midlands to join for the ascent-minded Aston Villa. He had been linked with a move away for years.

Villa have acquired a skilled Premier League player, yet the high weekly salary paid to Tielemans may be explained by the absence of a transfer fee.

=6. Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool, £150k)

Mac Allister was anticipated to be at the center of a lengthy transfer dispute involving England’s wealthiest teams after an incredible breakthrough season in 2022–23, flourishing at Brighton, and winning the World Cup with Argentina.

Instead, by the start of June, Liverpool had finalized his signing.

The 24-year-old has been awarded the No. 10 jersey at Anfield, which is tantalizing. If he performs as well as Sadio Mane, the former owner, Mac Allister will have earned his £150,000 weekly salary.

5. Christopher Nkunku (Chelsea, £195k)

Nkunku, the newest high-profile addition to try to break Chelsea’s striker curse, comes to England with a prolific goal-scoring record at RB Leipzig and plenty of promise, which is reflected in his salary.

4. Mason Mount (Man Utd, £200k)

At the age of 24, Mount has already amassed 36 England caps, won the Champions League, and been twice awarded Chelsea’s Player of the Year. After the abuse he received on social media from irate Chelsea fans, this is all worth repeating.

For months, it seemed regretfully inevitable that he would leave Stamford Bridge, but United has now added the kind of player who would excite fans at Old Trafford.

His £200k weekly salary will seem like mere pennies if he can get back to his form from two years ago.

3. Sandro Tonali (Newcastle, £210k)

For the first time since 2003, Champions League football will be played in Tyneside, hence Newcastle was anticipating a lively summer transfer market.

At the time of publishing, manager Eddie Howe had only signed midfielders Tonali and Barnes after having the audacity to claim financial hardship.

Following Newcastle’s £68.5 million purchase of Tonali from AC Milan, social media was ablaze with images of the midfielder appearing less than thrilled to be in Newcastle.

2. Declan Rice (Arsenal, £240k)

Fantastic player, obscene transfer fee.

It was always going to be expensive to wrest Rice away from Europa Conference League champion West Ham in this seller’s market. However, £105 million places a whole new level of pressure on the midfielder.

Even so, the 24-year-old is being compensated commensurately since he has the potential to be a world-class operator.

1. Kai Havertz (Arsenal, £280k)

Arsenal is undoubtedly putting their money where their mouth is this summer after last season’s title challenge faded once the clocks went forward.

The type of player that could elevate his game under Mikel Arteta is Havertz, who was eager to leave Chelsea after three inconsistent seasons.

Havertz is now the highest-paid new addition in the Premier League thanks to his potential and his goal in a real Champions League final.