LA LIGA · DEFENDERS · 2026/27
Highest paid La Liga defenders
João Cancelo and Trent Alexander-Arnold are the best-paid defenders in La Liga, on £249,000 a week each, or £12,948,000 a year. Antonio Rüdiger is next on £240,000 at Real Madrid. We hold wages for 181 La Liga defenders in 2026/27.
BEST PAID £249k
AVERAGE WAGE £37,418
SHARE OF WAGE BILL29%
TOP 10 A WEEK £2.0m
WAGES HELD181
The 50 best-paid La Liga defenders
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 | João Cancelo | £249,000£249k | £12,948,000£12.9m | Barcelona | 31 | Full-back | Portugal |
| 2 | Trent Alexander-Arnold | £249,000£249k | £12,948,000£12.9m | Real Madrid | 26 | Right-back, defensive midfielder | England |
| 3 | Antonio Rüdiger | £240,000£240k | £12,480,000£12.5m | Real Madrid | 32 | Centre-back | Germany |
| 4 | Jules Koundé | £225,000£225k | £11,700,000£11.7m | Barcelona | 26 | Centre-back | France |
| 5 | Aurélien Tchouaméni | £207,000£207k | £10,764,000£10.8m | Real Madrid | 25 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | France |
| 6 | Cristian Romero | £200,000£200k | £10,400,000£10.4m | Atlético Madrid | 27 | Centre-back | Argentina |
| 7 | Ferland Mendy | £172,000£172k | £8,944,000£8.9m | Real Madrid | 30 | Left-back | France |
| 8 | Dani Carvajal | £172,000£172k | £8,944,000£8.9m | Real Madrid | 33 | Right-back | Spain |
| 9 | Rodri | £165,000£165k | £8,580,000£8.6m | Barcelona | 29 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | Spain |
| 10 | Éder Militão | £154,000£154k | £8,008,000£8.0m | Real Madrid | 27 | Centre-back | Brazil |
| 11 | Andreas Christensen | £149,000£149k | £7,748,000£7.7m | Barcelona | 29 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | Denmark |
| 12 | Dean Huijsen | £149,000£149k | £7,748,000£7.7m | Real Madrid | 20 | Centre-back | Spain |
| 13 | Álvaro Carreras | £149,000£149k | £7,748,000£7.7m | Real Madrid | 22 | Left-back | Spain |
| 14 | Ibrahima Konaté | £140,000£140k | £7,280,000£7.3m | Real Madrid | 26 | Centre-back | France |
| 15 | Eduardo Camavinga | £138,000£138k | £7,176,000£7.2m | Real Madrid | 22 | Left-back, defensive midfielder | France |
| 16 | Marcos Llorente | £133,000£133k | £6,916,000£6.9m | Atlético Madrid | 30 | Right-back, defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | Spain |
| 17 | Eric García | £133,000£133k | £6,916,000£6.9m | Barcelona | 24 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | Spain |
| 18 | Marc Cucurella | £110,000£110k | £5,720,000£5.7m | Real Madrid | 26 | Centre-back, left midfielder | Spain |
| 19 | Álex Grimaldo | £102,000£102k | £5,304,000£5.3m | Atlético Madrid | 29 | Left-back, left winger | Spain |
| 20 | José Gayà | £97,000£97k | £5,044,000£5.0m | Valencia | 30 | Left-back, left winger | Spain |
| 21 | Fran García (Francisco García Torres) | £88,000£88k | £4,576,000£4.6m | Real Betis | 25 | Left-back, left midfielder | Spain |
| 22 | Denzel Dumfries | £87,000£87k | £4,524,000£4.5m | Real Madrid | 29 | Right-back, right midfielder | Netherlands |
| 23 | Pau Cubarsí | £85,000£85k | £4,420,000£4.4m | Barcelona | 18 | Centre-back | Spain |
| 24 | José Giménez | £83,000£83k | £4,316,000£4.3m | Deportivo La Coruña | 30 | Centre-back | Uruguay |
| 25 | Alejandro Balde | £76,000£76k | £3,952,000£4.0m | Barcelona | 21 | Left-back | Spain |
| 26 | Marcão | £72,000£72k | £3,744,000£3.7m | Sevilla | 29 | Centre-back | Brazil |
| 27 | Yuri | £67,000£67k | £3,484,000£3.5m | Athletic Bilbao | 35 | Left-back | Spain |
| 28 | Mouctar Diakhaby | £65,000£65k | £3,380,000£3.4m | Valencia | 28 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | Guinea |
| 29 | Angeliño | £64,000£64k | £3,328,000£3.3m | Deportivo La Coruña | 28 | Centre-back, left midfielder | Spain |
| 30 | Marash Kumbulla | £54,000£54k | £2,808,000£2.8m | Rayo Vallecano | 25 | Centre-back | Albania |
| 31 | Andrés García | £53,000£53k | £2,756,000£2.8m | Getafe | 22 | Right-back | Spain |
| 32 | Quilindschy Hartman | £48,000£48k | £2,496,000£2.5m | Espanyol | 23 | Left-back | Netherlands |
| 33 | Dani Vivian | £43,000£43k | £2,236,000£2.2m | Athletic Bilbao | 26 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | Spain |
| 34 | Sergio Gómez | £41,000£41k | £2,132,000£2.1m | Real Sociedad | 24 | Left-back, winger | Spain |
| 35 | Robin Le Normand | £40,000£40k | £2,080,000£2.1m | Atlético Madrid | 28 | Centre-back | Spain |
| 36 | Dávid Hancko | £39,000£39k | £2,028,000£2.0m | Atlético Madrid | 27 | Centre-back | Slovakia |
| 37 | Mamadou Sarr | £39,000£39k | £2,028,000£2.0m | Real Sociedad | 19 | Centre-back | Senegal |
| 38 | Giuliano Simeone | £38,000£38k | £1,976,000£2.0m | Atlético Madrid | 22 | Right wing-back, winger | Argentina |
| 39 | Aymeric Laporte | £37,000£37k | £1,924,000£1.9m | Athletic Bilbao | 31 | Centre-back | Spain |
| 40 | Jeanuël Belocian | £33,000£33k | £1,716,000£1.7m | Racing Santander | 20 | Centre-back | France |
| 41 | Juan Foyth | £32,000£32k | £1,664,000£1.7m | Villarreal | 27 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | Argentina |
| 42 | Marc Bartra | £30,000£30k | £1,560,000£1.6m | Real Betis | 34 | Centre-back | Spain |
| 43 | Joris Gnagnon | £29,000£29k | £1,508,000£1.5m | Sevilla | 23 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | France |
| 44 | Axel Tape | £28,000£28k | £1,456,000£1.5m | Levante | 17 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | France |
| 45 | Raúl Asencio | £28,000£28k | £1,456,000£1.5m | Real Madrid | 22 | Centre-back | Spain |
| 46 | Florian Lejeune | £27,000£27k | £1,404,000£1.4m | Rayo Vallecano | 34 | Centre-back | France |
| 47 | Aitor Paredes | £26,000£26k | £1,352,000£1.4m | Athletic Bilbao | 25 | Centre-back | Spain |
| 48 | Igor Zubeldia | £26,000£26k | £1,352,000£1.4m | Real Sociedad | 28 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | Spain |
| 49 | Diego Llorente | £25,000£25k | £1,300,000£1.3m | Real Betis | 31 | Centre-back | Spain |
| 50 | Vanja Drkusic | £25,000£25k | £1,300,000£1.3m | Espanyol | 25 | Centre-back | Slovenia |
What each position earns in La Liga
Average weekly wage of the players aged 22 or over we hold a wage for
Defenders take 29% of what La Liga 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 defenders the most
Every defender wage we hold at each La Liga club, added together, a week
Real Madrid pay 13 defenders £1,995,000 a week between them, and Trent Alexander-Arnold takes 12% of it.
The best-paid defender at every La Liga club
20 clubs, 2026/27, with where each ranks among the league's defenders
| CLUB | PLAYER | WEEKLY | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid | Trent Alexander-Arnold | £249,000£249k | 2 |
| Barcelona | João Cancelo | £249,000£249k | 1 |
| Atlético Madrid | Cristian Romero | £200,000£200k | 6 |
| Valencia | José Gayà | £97,000£97k | 20 |
| Real Betis | Fran García (Francisco García Torres) | £88,000£88k | 21 |
| Deportivo La Coruña | José Giménez | £83,000£83k | 24 |
| Sevilla | Marcão | £72,000£72k | 26 |
| Athletic Bilbao | Yuri | £67,000£67k | 27 |
| Rayo Vallecano | Marash Kumbulla | £54,000£54k | 30 |
| Getafe | Andrés García | £53,000£53k | 31 |
| Espanyol | Quilindschy Hartman | £48,000£48k | 32 |
| Real Sociedad | Sergio Gómez | £41,000£41k | 34 |
| Racing Santander | Jeanuël Belocian | £33,000£33k | 40 |
| Villarreal | Juan Foyth | £32,000£32k | 41 |
| Levante | Axel Tape | £28,000£28k | 44 |
| Osasuna | Flavien-Enzo Boyomo | £25,000£25k | 51 |
| Celta Vigo | Javi Galán | £23,000£23k | 57 |
| Málaga | Adam Aznou | £23,000£23k | 58 |
| Deportivo Alavés | Hugo Novoa | £13,000£13k | 91 |
| Elche | Víctor Chust | £8,500£9k | 101 |
The best-paid defender in every men's league
43 leagues, ordered by their best-paid defender. La Liga ranks fifth.
| LEAGUE | BEST PAID | WEEKLY | AVERAGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Pro League | Kalidou Koulibaly | £497,000£497k | £40,351£40k |
| Premier League | Virgil van Dijk | £350,000£350k | £69,840£70k |
| Bundesliga | Dayot Upamecano | £331,000£331k | £42,331£42k |
| Ligue 1 | Lucas Hernández | £316,000£316k | £27,702£28k |
| La Liga | João Cancelo | £249,000£249k | £37,418£37k |
| Serie A | John Stones | £200,000£200k | £36,415£36k |
| Süper Lig | Milan Škriniar | £166,000£166k | £15,078£15k |
| Superleague Greece | Stefan de Vrij | £117,000£117k | £10,420£10k |
| Championship | Kieran Trippier | £115,000£115k | £18,082£18k |
| Eredivisie | Lutsharel Geertruida | £99,000£99k | £8,088£8k |
| Major League Soccer | Jordi Alba | £85,000£85k | £7,805£8k |
| Scottish Premiership | Ben Godfrey | £80,000£80k | £5,860£6k |
| Primeira Liga | Jakub Kiwior | £58,000£58k | £5,910£6k |
| La Liga 2 | David López | £58,000£58k | £4,473£4k |
| Russian Premier League | Matheus Reis | £57,000£57k | £12,772£13k |
| Brasileirão Série A | Guillermo Maripán | £53,000£53k | £8,284£8k |
| Belgian Pro League | Matteo Dams | £49,000£49k | £5,133£5k |
| League One | Wes Morgan | £46,000£46k | £5,700£6k |
| 2. Bundesliga | Yannick Gerhardt | £42,000£42k | £8,296£8k |
| Super Liga | Nicolás Otamendi | £41,000£41k | £3,253£3k |
| Danish Superliga | Rasmus Kristensen | £39,000£39k | £5,418£5k |
| Ekstraklasa | Attila Szalai | £36,000£36k | £2,883£3k |
| Serie B | Federico Baschirotto | £33,000£33k | £6,876£7k |
| Czech First League | David Jurásek | £29,000£29k | £1,857£2k |
| Chinese Super League | Matheus Jussa (Matheus Isaias dos Santos) | £27,000£27k | £4,788£5k |
| Liga MX | Kenedy | £25,000£25k | £6,926£7k |
| Austrian Bundesliga | Stefan Lainer | £21,000£21k | £4,095£4k |
| Ligue 2 | Frédéric Guilbert | £18,000£18k | £4,556£5k |
| J1 League | Gotoku Sakai | £15,000£15k | £3,457£3k |
| Croatian First League | Ronaël Pierre-Gabriel | £15,000£15k | £2,078£2k |
| Thai League | Erik Sviatchenko | £14,000£14k | £2,172£2k |
| Eliteserien | Hrannar Snær Magnússon | £13,000£13k | £1,630£2k |
| Belgian Challenger Pro League | Thomas Foket | £8,600£9k | £1,529£2k |
| League Two | Alfie Dorrington | £8,500£9k | £2,352£2k |
| Categoría Primera A | Frank Fabra | £8,300£8k | £3,994£4k |
| Scottish Championship | Leon King | £8,000£8k | £952£952 |
| A-League | Jacob Farrell | £6,100£6k | £1,262£1k |
| Indian Super League | Anwar Ali | £4,500£5k | £595£595 |
| National League | Jake Rooney | £4,100£4k | £1,165£1k |
| I-League | Jamie McCart | £4,100£4k | £547£547 |
| Veikkausliiga | Alfie Cicale | £2,500£3k | £646£646 |
| Canadian Premier League | Curtis Ofori | £1,400£1k | £443£443 |
| Meistriliiga | Modou Tambedou | £484£484 | £152£152 |
Frequently asked questions
Who is the highest paid defender in La Liga?
João Cancelo of Barcelona and Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid, on £249,000 a week each in 2026/27, or £12,948,000 a year.
How much do La Liga defenders earn?
The average La Liga defender aged 22 or over earns £37,418 a week, and the median one £16,000. Defenders take 29% of what La Liga pays its players of that age.
Which La Liga club pays its defenders the most?
Real Madrid, £1,995,000 a week across the 13 defenders we hold a wage for, led by Trent Alexander-Arnold on £249,000.
Who is the highest paid defender in football?
Of the 43 men's leagues we rank defenders in, the best-paid is Kalidou Koulibaly of Al-Hilal Saudi Football Club in the Saudi Pro League, on £497,000 a week. The best-paid in La Liga ranks fifth of the 43 leagues on that measure.
Where to next
The same La Liga squads, cut a different way
See the highest paid La Liga players in every position, the best-paid player at every club, what La Liga players are paid at every age, or La Liga wage bill, club by club.