CROATIAN FIRST LEAGUE · MIDFIELDERS · 2026/27
Highest paid Croatian First League midfielders
Ismaël Bennacer is the best-paid midfielder in the Croatian First League, on £117,000 a week at GNK Dinamo Zagreb, or £6,084,000 a year. Miha Zajc is next on £12,000 at GNK Dinamo Zagreb. We hold wages for 64 Croatian First League midfielders in 2026/27.
BEST PAID £117k
AVERAGE WAGE £4,206
SHARE OF WAGE BILL35%
TOP 10 A WEEK £183k
WAGES HELD64
The 50 best-paid Croatian First League midfielders
Weekly wage, 2026/27. A player who plays in two areas of the pitch is on both lists, at the full wage.
| # | PLAYER | WEEKLY | YEARLY | CLUB | AGE | POSITION | NATION |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ismaël Bennacer | £117,000£117k | £6,084,000£6.1m | GNK Dinamo Zagreb | 27 | Defensive midfielder | Algeria |
| 2 | Miha Zajc | £12,000£12k | £624,000£624k | GNK Dinamo Zagreb | 31 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | Slovenia |
| 3 | Hugo Guillamón | £9,200£9k | £478,400£478k | HNK Hajduk Split | 25 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | Spain |
| 4 | Vladan Bubanja | £9,000£9k | £468,000£468k | NK Osijek | 26 | Defensive midfielder | Montenegro |
| 5 | Filip Krovinovic | £8,300£8k | £431,600£432k | HNK Hajduk Split | 29 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | Croatia |
| 6 | Dario Melnjak | £7,400£7k | £384,800£385k | HNK Hajduk Split | 32 | Left-back, left midfielder | Croatia |
| 7 | Josip Mišic | £7,100£7k | £369,200£369k | GNK Dinamo Zagreb | 31 | Defensive midfielder | Croatia |
| 8 | Josip Radosevic | £5,100£5k | £265,200£265k | NK Istra 1961 | 31 | Defensive midfielder | Croatia |
| 9 | Ante Majstorović | £4,500£5k | £234,000£234k | HNK Rijeka | 31 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | Croatia |
| 10 | Niko Sigur | £2,900£3k | £150,800£151k | HNK Hajduk Split | 21 | Right-back, defensive midfielder | Canada |
| 11 | Dejan Petrovic | £2,400£2k | £124,800£125k | HNK Rijeka | 27 | Central midfielder | Slovenia |
| 12 | Domagoj Antolić | £2,400£2k | £124,800£125k | NK Lokomotiva Zagreb | 35 | Defensive midfielder | Croatia |
| 13 | Žan Trontelj | £2,000£2k | £104,000£104k | HNK Gorica | 25 | Right-back, right midfielder | Slovenia |
| 14 | Marko Pajac | £1,900£2k | £98,800£99k | NK Lokomotiva Zagreb | 32 | Left-back, left midfielder | Croatia |
| 15 | Mihail Caimacov | £1,900£2k | £98,800£99k | NK Slaven Belupo | 26 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | Moldova |
| 16 | Tiago Dantas | £1,600£2k | £83,200£83k | HNK Rijeka | 24 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | Portugal |
| 17 | Gustavo Albarracín | £1,200£1k | £62,400£62k | NK Istra 1961 | 19 | Defensive midfielder, central midfielder | Argentina |
| 18 | Bruno Goda | £1,064£1k | £55,328£55k | GNK Dinamo Zagreb | 27 | Left-back, left midfielder | Croatia |
| 19 | Advan Kadušić | £975£975 | £50,700£51k | NK Istra 1961 | 27 | Defender, defensive midfielder | Bosnia & Herzegovina |
| 20 | Mario Marina | £974£974 | £50,648£51k | NK Varaždin | 35 | Defensive midfielder | Croatia |
| 21 | Marko Soldo | £900£900 | £46,800£47k | GNK Dinamo Zagreb | 21 | Defensive midfielder | Croatia |
| 22 | Novak Tepšić | £747£747 | £38,844£39k | NK Varaždin | 23 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | Croatia |
| 23 | Antonio Maurić | £696£696 | £36,192£36k | NK Istra 1961 | 21 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | Croatia |
| 24 | Anthony Kalik | £618£618 | £32,136£32k | HNK Hajduk Split | 27 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | Australia |
| 25 | Tomas Baković | £600£600 | £31,200£31k | GNK Dinamo Zagreb | 18 | Defensive midfielder | Croatia |
| 26 | Dario Marešic | £556£556 | £28,912£29k | HNK Hajduk Split | 25 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | Austria |
| 27 | Marko Vešović | £534£534 | £27,768£28k | NK Lokomotiva Zagreb | 33 | Right-back, right midfielder | Montenegro |
| 28 | Leon Belcar | £503£503 | £26,156£26k | NK Lokomotiva Zagreb | 23 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | Croatia |
| 29 | Tomislav Duvnjak | £483£483 | £25,116£25k | NK Varaždin | 22 | Defensive midfielder | Croatia |
| 30 | Ljuban Crepulja | £478£478 | £24,856£25k | NK Slaven Belupo | 31 | Defensive midfielder | Croatia |
| 31 | Justas Lasickas | £476£476 | £24,752£25k | HNK Rijeka | 27 | Right-back, right midfielder | Lithuania |
| 32 | Israel Isaac Ayuma | £452£452 | £23,504£24k | NK Istra 1961 | 19 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | Nigeria |
| 33 | Iker Pozo | £446£446 | £23,192£23k | HNK Gorica | 24 | Defensive midfielder | Spain |
| 34 | Filip Jović | £439£439 | £22,828£23k | NK Slaven Belupo | 25 | Left-back, defensive midfielder | Serbia |
| 35 | Mile Škorić | £423£423 | £21,996£22k | HNK Rijeka | 34 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | Croatia |
| 36 | Domagoj Pavičić | £412£412 | £21,424£21k | HNK Gorica | 31 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | Croatia |
| 37 | Ante Kavelj | £400£400 | £20,800£21k | HNK Gorica | 19 | Defensive midfielder | Croatia |
| 38 | Marko Rog | £388£388 | £20,176£20k | NK Lokomotiva Zagreb | 29 | Central midfielder | Croatia |
| 39 | Paul Bismarck Tabinas | £372£372 | £19,344£19k | GNK Dinamo Zagreb | 23 | Defender, right midfielder | Philippines |
| 40 | Gregor Sikosek | £372£372 | £19,344£19k | NK Varaždin | 31 | Left-back, left midfielder | Slovenia |
| 41 | Stjepan Lončar | £364£364 | £18,928£19k | NK Istra 1961 | 28 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | Bosnia & Herzegovina |
| 42 | Oleksandr Petrusenko | £357£357 | £18,564£19k | NK Osijek | 27 | Defensive midfielder | Ukraine |
| 43 | Ognjen Bakić | £344£344 | £17,888£18k | HNK Gorica | 22 | Defensive midfielder | Montenegro |
| 44 | Leo Stulac | £335£335 | £17,420£17k | NK Istra 1961 | 30 | Defensive midfielder | Slovenia |
| 45 | Jakov Gurlica | £328£328 | £17,056£17k | HNK Vukovar 1991 | 21 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | Croatia |
| 46 | Blaž Bošković | £282£282 | £14,664£15k | NK Lokomotiva Zagreb | 23 | Defensive midfielder | Bosnia & Herzegovina |
| 47 | Elvir Duraković | £279£279 | £14,508£15k | HNK Gorica | 25 | Left-back, left midfielder | Bosnia & Herzegovina |
| 48 | Eniss Shabani | £279£279 | £14,508£15k | HNK Vukovar 1991 | 22 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | Albania |
| 49 | David Puclin | £271£271 | £14,092£14k | NK Varaždin | 33 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | Croatia |
| 50 | Roberto Puncec | £271£271 | £14,092£14k | NK Varaždin | 33 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | Croatia |
What each position earns in the Croatian First League
Average weekly wage of the players aged 22 or over we hold a wage for
Midfielders take 35% of what the Croatian First League pays its players of that age. The four shares add up to the whole bill, because a player who plays in two areas gives half the wage to each.
The clubs that pay their midfielders the most
Every midfielder wage we hold at each Croatian First League club, added together, a week
GNK Dinamo Zagreb pay 8 midfielders £139,041 a week between them, and Ismaël Bennacer takes 84% of it.
The best-paid midfielder at every Croatian First League club
10 clubs, 2026/27, with where each ranks among the league's midfielders
| CLUB | PLAYER | WEEKLY | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|
| GNK Dinamo Zagreb | Ismaël Bennacer | £117,000£117k | 1 |
| HNK Hajduk Split | Hugo Guillamón | £9,200£9k | 3 |
| NK Osijek | Vladan Bubanja | £9,000£9k | 4 |
| NK Istra 1961 | Josip Radosevic | £5,100£5k | 8 |
| HNK Rijeka | Ante Majstorović | £4,500£5k | 9 |
| NK Lokomotiva Zagreb | Domagoj Antolić | £2,400£2k | 12 |
| HNK Gorica | Žan Trontelj | £2,000£2k | 13 |
| NK Slaven Belupo | Mihail Caimacov | £1,900£2k | 15 |
| NK Varaždin | Mario Marina | £974£974 | 20 |
| HNK Vukovar 1991 | Jakov Gurlica | £328£328 | 45 |
The best-paid midfielder in every men's league
43 leagues, ordered by their best-paid midfielder. The Croatian First League ranks 11th.
| LEAGUE | BEST PAID | WEEKLY | AVERAGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Pro League | Otávio | £472,000£472k | £49,687£50k |
| Süper Lig | N'Golo Kanté | £348,000£348k | £21,488£21k |
| Bundesliga | Joshua Kimmich | £315,000£315k | £39,483£39k |
| Premier League | Bruno Fernandes | £300,000£300k | £76,710£77k |
| Major League Soccer | Casemiro | £300,000£300k | £11,731£12k |
| Ligue 1 | Marquinhos | £279,000£279k | £30,015£30k |
| La Liga | Trent Alexander-Arnold | £249,000£249k | £40,838£41k |
| Serie A | John Stones | £200,000£200k | £44,528£45k |
| Primeira Liga | João Palhinha | £199,000£199k | £11,158£11k |
| Championship | Kalvin Phillips | £165,000£165k | £20,131£20k |
| Croatian First League | Ismaël Bennacer | £117,000£117k | £4,206£4k |
| Brasileirão Série A | Arthur | £99,000£99k | £10,842£11k |
| Eredivisie | Lutsharel Geertruida | £99,000£99k | £9,142£9k |
| 2. Bundesliga | Maximilian Arnold | £74,000£74k | £11,170£11k |
| Russian Premier League | Wendel | £71,000£71k | £16,664£17k |
| Liga MX | Carlos Gruezo | £64,000£64k | £6,811£7k |
| League One | Boubakary Soumaré | £58,000£58k | £6,405£6k |
| Serie B | Ali Al Musrati | £55,000£55k | £8,344£8k |
| La Liga 2 | Donny van de Beek | £54,000£54k | £5,199£5k |
| Super Liga | Leandro Paredes | £44,000£44k | £4,100£4k |
| Chinese Super League | Ibrahim Amadou | £42,000£42k | £5,544£6k |
| Scottish Premiership | Callum McGregor | £39,000£39k | £5,790£6k |
| J1 League | Oriol Romeu | £35,000£35k | £4,063£4k |
| Danish Superliga | Philip Billing | £35,000£35k | £7,123£7k |
| Superleague Greece | Christos Zafeiris | £33,000£33k | £7,533£8k |
| Czech First League | Sivert Mannsverk | £33,000£33k | £2,010£2k |
| Belgian Pro League | László Bénes | £25,000£25k | £6,702£7k |
| Ekstraklasa | Karol Linetty | £25,000£25k | £3,410£3k |
| Ligue 2 | Ibou Sissoko | £21,000£21k | £4,966£5k |
| Austrian Bundesliga | Bendegúz Bolla | £20,000£20k | £3,500£4k |
| Belgian Challenger Pro League | Mats Rits | £16,000£16k | £2,048£2k |
| Eliteserien | Hrannar Snær Magnússon | £13,000£13k | £2,231£2k |
| League Two | Joe Williams | £12,000£12k | £2,560£3k |
| Categoría Primera A | Élan Ricardo | £11,000£11k | £3,852£4k |
| Thai League | Roque Mesa | £8,000£8k | £2,247£2k |
| Indian Super League | Lalengmawia | £5,500£6k | £707£707 |
| Veikkausliiga | Alexander Ring | £4,500£5k | £708£708 |
| Scottish Championship | Graeme Shinnie | £4,200£4k | £907£907 |
| National League | Jake Rooney | £4,100£4k | £1,293£1k |
| A-League | Jake Girdwood-Reich | £4,100£4k | £1,219£1k |
| I-League | Jordi Altena | £3,100£3k | £364£364 |
| Canadian Premier League | Manuel Aparicio | £810£810 | £458£458 |
| Meistriliiga | Modou Tambedou | £484£484 | £161£161 |
Frequently asked questions
Who is the highest paid midfielder in the Croatian First League?
Ismaël Bennacer of GNK Dinamo Zagreb, on £117,000 a week in 2026/27, or £6,084,000 a year. Miha Zajc of GNK Dinamo Zagreb is second on £12,000 a week.
How much do Croatian First League midfielders earn?
The average Croatian First League midfielder aged 22 or over earns £4,206 a week, and the median one £478. Midfielders take 35% of what the Croatian First League pays its players of that age.
Which Croatian First League club pays its midfielders the most?
GNK Dinamo Zagreb, £139,041 a week across the 8 midfielders we hold a wage for, led by Ismaël Bennacer on £117,000.
Who is the highest paid midfielder in football?
Of the 43 men's leagues we rank midfielders in, the best-paid is Otávio of Al-Qadsiah Football Club in the Saudi Pro League, on £472,000 a week. The best-paid in the Croatian First League ranks 11th of the 43 leagues on that measure.
Where to next
The same Croatian First League squads, cut a different way
See the highest paid Croatian First League players in every position, the best-paid player at every club, what Croatian First League players are paid at every age, or the Croatian First League wage bill, club by club.