Learn about Sunderland Association Football Club wages and players' salaries for the 2025/2026 season.
Sunderland AFC is a household name in English football and is one of the teams with a significant wage bill this season. This list shows the club's players and their weekly salaries from the highest paid to the lowest this season:
1. Granit Xhaka - £110,000 and £5.7m per year
Granit Xhaka is currently the highest paid player at Sunderland with a weekly salary of £110,000 which totals £5.7m per year at the club. The Swiss footballer is known for his position as a forward.
Granit Xhaka is a household name in English football having played for Arsenal FC for several seasons and winning two FA Cup and Community Shield with the club. He also won the Bundesliga and German Cup with Bayer Leverkusen.
Granit Xhaka has also played for FC Basel where he won two Swiss Super League and the Swiss Cup. His performance earned him the Swiss Footballer of the Year three times.
2. Nordi Mukiele - £90,000 per week and £4.7m per year
Nordi Mukiele is the second highest paid player at Sunderland this season with a weekly salary of £90,000, which totals £4.7m per year at the club.
The French footballer plays as a right-back or centre-back. He joined the club in 2025 and has already established himself as one of the key players in the team.
Nordi Mukiele had an impressive career at RB Leipzig in Germany, winning the DFB-Pokal. He also had a successful career at Paris Saint-Germain, winning two Ligue 1 titles, one Coupe de France and two Trophée des Champions.
3. Lutsharel Geertruida - £77,000 per week and £4m per year
Lutsharel Geertruida is the next player on the list when it comes to ranking the highest paid players at Sunderland with a weekly salary of £77,000 which totals £4m per year at the club.
Lutsharel Geertruida is a Dutch footballer who plays mainly as a right-back but can also play as a centre-back and defensive midfielder. He joined the club in 2024 on loan from RB Leipzig.
He had a successful career in the Dutch league with Feyenoord, winning the Dutch Eredivisie, two KNVB Cups and Johan Cruyff Shields.
4. Brian Brobbey – £75,000 per week and £3.9m per year
Brian Brobbey is the next player on the Sunderland payroll this season with a weekly salary of £75,000, which totals £3.9m per year at the club. The Dutch footballer plays as a forward.
Brian Brobbey joined Sunderland in 2025 and has already established himself as one of the key players in the first team.
He joined the club from AFC Ajax following a successful career in the Netherlands, where he won two Eredivisie and one KNVB Cup. His performance earned him the Ajax Player of the Year in 2023–24.
5. Enzo Le Fée - £75,000 per week and £3.9m per year
Enzo Le Fée is the next player on the Sunderland wage bill this season with a base salary of £75,000, which totals £3.9m per year at the club. The French footballer plays as a midfielder.
Enzo Le Fée joined the club initially on loan from AS Roma before signing a permanent deal for £19 million. He is currently one of the key players in the first team.
He played a significant role as Sunderland AFC won the EFL Championship playoffs in the 2024/25 season.
6. Habib Diarra - £70,500 per week and £3.7m per year
Habib Diarra currently earns a base salary of £70,500 which totals £3.7m per year at the club.
The Senegalese footballer plays as a midfielder. He joined the club in 2025 from French club Strasbourg.
7. Bertrand Traoré - £60,000 per week and £3.1m per year
Bertrand Traoré is the next player on the Sunderland AFC payroll this season with a weekly salary of £60,000, which totals £3.1m per year. The Burkina Faso footballer plays as a forward or right winger.
Bertrand Traoré joined the club in 2025 and has already established himself as one of the regulars in the team.
He has played for some high-profile European football clubs, including Chelsea FC, AFC Ajax, Lyon, Aston Villa and Villarreal CF.
8. Chemsdine Talbi – £50,000 per week and £2.6m per year
Chemsdine Talbi is the next player on the Sunderland payroll, earning a base salary of £50,000 per week, which totals £2.6m per year at the club. The Moroccan footballer plays as a winger.
Chemsdine Talbi joined the club in 2025 and currently plays a key role in the team. He joined the club for a reported fee to be worth £16.5 million plus a potential £2.5 million in add-ons from Belgian side Club Brugge.
He had an impressive career with Club Brugge, winning the Belgian Cup.
9. Omar Alderete - £45,000 per week and £2.3m per year
Omar Alderete currently earns a base salary of £45,000, which totals £2.3m per year at Sunderland this season. The Paraguayan footballer plays as a defender.
Omar Alderete joined the club in 2025 after leaving Spanish side Getafe. He has also played for teams like Huracán, FC Basel, Hertha BSC and Valencia CF.
10. Noah Sadiki - £45,000 per week and £2.3m per year
Noah Sadiki currently earns a base salary of £45,000 per week and £2.3m per year at Sunderland AFC. The DR Congo footballer plays as a fullback, centre back or defensive midfielder.
He joined the English club in 2025 after leaving the Belgian side Union SG. He has a successful career in Belgium with Union SG, winning the Belgian Pro League, Belgian Cup and Super Cup.
11. Simon Adingra - £40,000 per week and £2.1m per year
Simon Adingra is the next player on the Sunderland payroll this season with a base salary of £40,000 per week, which totals £2.1m per year at the club. The Ivorian footballer is known for his position as a winger.
Simon Adingra was a top prospect during his time at Brighton & Hove Albion FC. He eventually made the switch to Sunderland AFC.
He was also in the books of Belgian side Union SG.
12. Daniel Ballard - £40,000 per week and £2.1m per year
Daniel Ballard earns a base salary of £40,000 per week and £2.1m per year. The Northern Ireland footballer plays as a centre back.
He joined Sunderland AFC in 2022 and has been one of the long-standing players in the first team.
Daniel Ballard was a product of the Arsenal FC youth academy but spent the majority of his time on loan at Swindon, Blackpool and Millwall before signing a permanent deal with Sunderland.
13. Trai Hume - £35,000 per week and £1.8m per year
Trai Hume currently earns a base salary of £35,000 per week, which totals £1.8m per year at Sunderland. The Republic of Ireland footballer plays as a full-back.
He began his professional career at Linfield and later moved on loan to Ballymena United before signing for Sunderland on a permanent deal in 2022.
He won the NIFL Premiership with Linfield in 2021/22. He also won the EFL Championship and League One playoffs with Sunderland.
14. Arthur Masuaku - £35,000 per week and £1.8m per year
Arthur Masuaku currently earns a base salary of £35,000 per week, which totals £1.8m per year for Sunderland AFC. The DR Congo footballer plays as a right back.
He joined Sunderland in 2025 after leaving Turkish football club Beşiktaş. He is a household name in European football having played for teams like West Ham United and Fulham FC in England.
15. Reinildo Mandava – £35,000 per week and £1.8m per year
Reinildo Mandava is the next player on the Sunderland payroll this season with a weekly salary of £35,000 per week and £1.8m per year. The Mozambican footballer plays as a right back.
Reinildo Mandava joined the club in 2025 and has made a handful of appearances in the team. He joined the club after leaving La Liga side Atlético Madrid.
He has also played for other well-known European football teams, including Lille, where he won the French league and the Super Cup.
16. Chris Rigg - £30,000 per week and £1.6m per year
Chris Rigg currently earns a base salary of £30,000 per week, which totals £1.6m per year at Sunderland AFC. The English footballer plays as a midfielder.
Chris Rigg has been part of Sunderland since 2017 as a youth academy player and with the first team since 2023 and has made a significant contribution to the team, including the EFL Championship play-offs in 2024/25.
His performance earned him the EFL Championship Apprentice of the Year for the 2024/25 season.
17. Eliezer Mayenda - £25,000 per week and £1.3m per year
Eliezer Mayenda is the next player on the club's payroll with a weekly salary of £25,000, which totals £1.3m per year. The Spanish footballer plays as a forward.
Eliezer Mayenda has been part of Sunderland since 2023, when he moved from the French club Sochaux in a deal that was agreed to be in the region of €1 million.
He played a significant role as Sunderland went on to win the EFL Championship playoffs.
18. Luke O'Nien - £25,000 per week and £1.3m per year
Luke O'Nien is currently paid £25,000 per week and £1.3m per year at Sunderland. The English footballer plays as a defender or defensive midfielder.
He joined the club in 2018 and is one of the long-standing players on the team. His performance over the years has improved in the first team.
He was part of the team that won the EFL League One play-offs in 2022 and the EFL Championship play-offs in 2025.
19. Wilson Isidor - £25,000 per week and £1.3m per year
Wilson Isidor is the next player on the Sunderland payroll this season earning a base salary of £25,000 per week and £1.3m per year. The French footballer plays as a forward.
Wilson Isidor joined Sunderland in 2025 and has been one of the main top goal contributors on the team. His performance places him among the best forwards in the English Premier League currently.
He has also played for Zenit Saint Petersburg, Lokomotiv Moscow and AS Monaco.
20. Robin Roefs - £25,000 per week and £1.3m per year
Robin Roefs is the next player on the Sunderland payroll this season with a weekly salary of £25,000, which totals £1.3m per year at the club. The Dutch footballer is one of the main goalkeepers in the team.
Robin Roefs has been part of the Sunderland first team since his arrival in 2025 and has already established himself as a key starter in the team. He began his professional football career in NEC before moving to Sunderland.
21. Dennis Cirkin - £20,000 per week and £1m per year
Dennis Cirkin currently earns a base salary of £20,000 per week, which totals £1m per year at Sunderland. The English footballer plays as a left back.
Dennis Cirkin has been part of Sunderland's first team since 2021 and has been one of the long-standing players in the team. He played a part in the club's EFL League One play-off win in 2022 and EFL Championship play-off win in 2025.
22. Anthony Patterson - £20,000 per week and £1m per year
Anthony Patterson currently earns a base salary of £20,000 per week, which totals £1m per year at Sunderland. The English footballer plays as a goalkeeper.
Anthony Patterson was a product of the Sunderland youth academy and was promoted to the first team in 2018.
He was on loan at Notts County. He also played a part in the club's EFL League One play-offs win in 2022 and EFL Championship play-offs win in 2025.
23. Ian Poveda - £20,000 per week and £1m per year
Ian Poveda currently earns a base salary of £20,000 per week, which totals £1m per year at Sunderland. The Colombian footballer plays as an attacking midfielder or winger.
Ian Poveda joined the club in 2024 after leaving Leeds United FC. He was a product of the Manchester City academy. He spent some seasons on loan at Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool and Sheffield Wednesday.
24. Romaine Mundle - £20,000 per week and £1m per year
Romaine Mundle currently earns a base salary of £20,000 per week, which is £1m per year at Sunderland. The English footballer plays as a winger.
Romaine Mundle has been part of the first team since 2024 and has made a handful of appearances in the team. He played a significant role as the club won the EFL Championship playoffs in the 2024/25 season.
25. Simon Moore - £15,000 per week and £780k per year
Simon Moore currently earns a base salary of £15,000 per week and up to £780k per year at Sunderland. The English footballer is one of the goalkeeping options in the team.
He moved to the club in 2024. He has previously played for Brentford FC, Cardiff City, Sheffield United FC and Coventry City FC.
26. Aji Alese - £15,000 per week and £780k per year
Aji Alese currently earns a base salary of £15,000 per week which totals £780k per year at the club. The English footballer plays as a central defender.
He joined the club in 2022 and has made a handful of appearances in the team. He was a product of the West Ham United academy, but he spent the majority of his career at the club on loan at Accrington Stanley and Sheffield United FC.
27. Timothée Pembélé - £15,000 per week and £780k per year
Timothée Pembélé currently earns a base salary of £15,000 per week which totals £780k per year at Sunderland. The French footballer plays as a defender. He is currently on loan at French club Le Havre.
Timothée Pembélé joined Sunderland in 2023 after leaving Paris Saint-Germain.
28. Dan Neil - £15,000 per week and £780k per year
Dan Neil earns a base salary of £15,000 per week and up to £780k per year. The English footballer plays as a midfielder.
Dan Neil has been part of the Sunderland first team since 2018 after earning promotion from the youth academy.
29. Abdoullah Ba - £10,000 per week and £520k per year
Abdoullah Ba currently earns a base salary of £10,000 per week, which totals £520k per year at Sunderland AFC. The French footballer plays as a midfielder.
He joined the club in 2022 and has been part of the first team ever since, even though he spent 2025 on loan at Dunkerque.
30. Ahmed Abdullahi – £7,500 per week and £390k per year
Ahmed Abdullahi currently earns a base salary of £7,500 per week and up to £390k per year. The Nigerian footballer plays as a forward. He joined the club in 2024 after leaving Belgian side KAA Gent.