THE average weekly wage for footballers in our EFL League One is widely reported to be £3,900.
Of course some players earn much more than this. In effect, ambitious clubs gamble on salaries in the hope of gaining promotion to the Championship.
And some of the big spenders duly achieved their aim last season to back up League One outright betting patterns.
Birmingham City were worthy champions finishing 19 points clear of second placed Wrexham. The Blues sealed elevation with six games to go courtesy of a 2-1 victory at Peterborough United on Tuesday 8th April 2025.
As for so-called “Hollywood club” Wrexham themselves, three promotions have been recorded across three glorious seasons starting from the National League.
They sealed matters in style by beating visitors Charlton Athletic 3-0 on Saturday 26th April 2025. It means that Wrexham return to the second tier of English football for the first time in 43 years.
Then the Play-Off winners were Charlton Athletic by edging cross-London rivals Leyton Orient 1-0 in the closely contested Final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 25th May 2025.
Macaulay Gillesphey’s 31st minute free-kick strike separated the two sides before a huge crowd of 76,193. Football betting was intense surrounding the frenetic winner takes it all showpiece occasion.
So who will be the best paid League One players during the new 2025/26 campaign?
These are the top 10 according to intelligent estimates across various online sites although players can also add appearance money and goalscoring bonuses to their basic financial remuneration packages…
Calum Chambers
- Salary – £45,000 per week
- Club – Cardiff City
- Age - 30
- Playing position – Defender
- 2024/25 playing record – 41 starts, 0 substitute appearances for Cardiff City in the EFL Championship
- 2024/25 goals scored – 2
Callum Robinson
- Salary – £35,000 per week
- Club – Cardiff City
- Age - 30
- Playing position – Forward
- 2024/25 playing record – 24 starts, 10 substitute appearances for Cardiff City in the EFL Championship
- 2024/25 goals scored – 12
Jacob Brown
- Salary – £31,000 per week
- Club – Luton Town
- Age - 27
- Playing position – Forward
- 2024/25 playing record – 11 starts, 18 substitute appearances for Luton Town in the EFL Championship
- 2024/25 goals scored – 4
Tahith Chong
- Salary – £30,000 per week
- Club – Luton Town
- Age - 25
- Playing position – Midfield
- 2024/25 playing record – 24 starts, 6 substitute appearances for Luton Town in the EFL Championship
- 2024/25 goals scored – 2
Marvelous Nakamba
- Salary – £29,000 per week
- Club – Luton Town
- Age - 31
- Playing position – Midfield
- 2024/25 playing record – 15 starts, 6 substitute appearances for Luton Town in the EFL Championship
- 2024/25 goals scored – 0
Alfie Doughty
- Salary – £27,500 per week
- Club – Luton Town
- Age - 25
- Playing position – Midfield
- 2024/25 playing record – 25 starts, 1 substitute appearances for Luton Town in the EFL Championship
- 2024/25 goals scored – 1
Shandon Baptiste
- Salary – £25,000 per week
- Club – Luton Town
- Age - 27
- Playing position – Midfield
- 2024/25 playing record – 7 starts, 9 substitute appearances for Luton Town in the EFL Championship
- 2024/25 goals scored – 1
David Turnbull
- Salary – £24,000 per week
- Club – Cardiff City
- Age - 26
- Playing position – Midfield
- 2024/25 playing record – 10 starts, 9 substitute appearances for Cardiff City in the EFL Championship
- 2024/25 goals scored – 1
Cauley Woodrow
- Salary – £22,000 per week
- Club – Luton Town
- Age - 30
- Playing position – Forward
- 2024/25 playing record – 1 starts, 14 substitute appearances for Luton Town in the EFL Championship plus 2 starts and 7 substitute appearances on loan at Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Championship
- 2024/25 goals scored – 0 for Luton Town and 0 for Blackburn Rovers
Mark McGuinness
- Salary – £20,000 per week
- Club – Luton Town
- Age - 24
- Playing position – Defender
- 2024/25 playing record – 41 starts, 2 substitute appearances for Luton Town in the EFL Championship
- 2024/25 goals scored – 3
Read More:
- League Two salary figures and estimates
- League One salary figures and estimates
- Football predictions
- How much do Championship players get paid?
- Learn about the Championship playoff final
- The most expensive transfers in Championship history
*Credit for the image belongs to Alamy*
