LIGUE 2 · MIDFIELDERS · 2026/27
Highest paid Ligue 2 midfielders
Ibou Sissoko is the best-paid midfielder in Ligue 2, on £21,000 a week at FC Nantes, or £1,092,000 a year. Francis Coquelin is next on £19,000 at Stade Lavallois MFC. We hold wages for 133 Ligue 2 midfielders in 2026/27.
BEST PAID £21k
AVERAGE WAGE £4,966
SHARE OF WAGE BILL24%
TOP 10 A WEEK £132k
WAGES HELD133
The 50 best-paid Ligue 2 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 | Ibou Sissoko | £21,000£21k | £1,092,000£1.1m | FC Nantes | 27 | Defensive midfielder | Mali |
| 2 | Francis Coquelin | £19,000£19k | £988,000£988k | Stade Lavallois MFC | 34 | Defensive midfielder, central midfielder | France |
| 3 | Florian Tardieu | £15,000£15k | £780,000£780k | Montpellier Hérault SC | 33 | Defensive midfielder | France |
| 4 | João Ferreira | £14,000£14k | £728,000£728k | AS Saint-Étienne | 24 | Centre-back, right midfielder | Portugal |
| 5 | Nampalys Mendy | £14,000£14k | £728,000£728k | FC Metz | 33 | Defensive midfielder | Senegal |
| 6 | Johann Lepenant | £12,000£12k | £624,000£624k | FC Nantes | 22 | Defensive midfielder | France |
| 7 | Jessy Deminguet | £11,000£11k | £572,000£572k | FC Metz | 27 | Defensive midfielder | France |
| 8 | Mahmoud Jaber | £9,000£9k | £468,000£468k | AS Saint-Étienne | 25 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | Israel |
| 9 | Mamadou Fofana | £8,900£9k | £462,800£463k | AS Nancy Lorraine | 27 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | Mali |
| 10 | Louis Leroux | £8,000£8k | £416,000£416k | FC Nantes | 19 | Left-back, central midfielder | France |
| 11 | Theo Leoni | £8,000£8k | £416,000£416k | Stade de Reims | 25 | Defensive midfielder | Belgium |
| 12 | Mael Corboz | £7,900£8k | £410,800£411k | Grenoble Foot 38 | 30 | Defensive midfielder | United States |
| 13 | Rominigue Kouamé | £7,700£8k | £400,400£400k | Clermont Foot 63 | 28 | Defensive midfielder | Mali |
| 14 | Yvann Maçon | £7,300£7k | £379,600£380k | Grenoble Foot 38 | 26 | Full-back, right midfielder | France |
| 15 | Mahamadou Diawara | £6,900£7k | £358,800£359k | Red Star FC | 20 | Defensive midfielder | France |
| 16 | Mory Gbané | £6,900£7k | £358,800£359k | Stade de Reims | 24 | Defensive midfielder | Côte d’Ivoire |
| 17 | Jordan Marié | £6,100£6k | £317,200£317k | Dijon FCO | 33 | Defensive midfielder | France |
| 18 | Christ-Owen Kouassi | £5,800£6k | £301,600£302k | Grenoble Foot 38 | 22 | Centre-back, right midfielder | France |
| 19 | Anthony Briançon | £5,500£6k | £286,000£286k | Pau FC | 30 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | France |
| 20 | Maxime Bernauer | £4,900£5k | £254,800£255k | AS Saint-Étienne | 27 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | France |
| 21 | Steven Nzonzi | £4,600£5k | £239,200£239k | USL Dunkerque | 36 | Defensive midfielder | France |
| 22 | Ben Old | £4,500£5k | £234,000£234k | AS Saint-Étienne | 22 | Left-back, left midfielder | New Zealand |
| 23 | Dylan Louiserre | £4,400£4k | £228,800£229k | En Avant Guingamp | 30 | Defensive midfielder | France |
| 24 | Hakim Abdallah | £4,200£4k | £218,400£218k | Pau FC | 27 | Left-back, left midfielder | Comoros |
| 25 | Jean Ruiz | £4,100£4k | £213,200£213k | FC Metz | 27 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | France |
| 26 | Jérémy Gélin | £4,100£4k | £213,200£213k | AS Nancy Lorraine | 28 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | France |
| 27 | Thomas Monconduit | £3,600£4k | £187,200£187k | Amiens SC | 34 | Defensive midfielder | France |
| 28 | Tom Ducrocq | £3,600£4k | £187,200£187k | En Avant Guingamp | 25 | Defensive midfielder | France |
| 29 | Aboubacar Lô | £3,500£4k | £182,000£182k | Stade Lavallois MFC | 25 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | Senegal |
| 30 | Dominique Guidi | £3,400£3k | £176,800£177k | SC Bastia | 29 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | France |
| 31 | Dylan Tavares | £3,400£3k | £176,800£177k | FC Sochaux-Montbéliard | 28 | Left-back, left midfielder | Cape Verde |
| 32 | Erwin Koffi | £3,300£3k | £171,600£172k | En Avant Guingamp | 30 | Right-back, defensive midfielder | France |
| 33 | Yanis Zouaoui | £3,300£3k | £171,600£172k | Montpellier Hérault SC | 27 | Left-back, left midfielder | France |
| 34 | Yohan Demoncy | £3,300£3k | £171,600£172k | Stade de Reims | 29 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | France |
| 35 | Jules Gaudin | £3,100£3k | £161,200£161k | Stade Lavallois MFC | 25 | Left-back, central midfielder | France |
| 36 | Jean-Lambert Evan's | £3,100£3k | £161,200£161k | Rodez Aveyron Football | 26 | Left-back, left midfielder | France |
| 37 | Julien Masson | £3,100£3k | £161,200£161k | FC Sochaux-Montbéliard | 27 | Defensive midfielder | France |
| 38 | Lucas Bernadou | £3,000£3k | £156,000£156k | Grenoble Foot 38 | 24 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | France |
| 39 | Rémy Boissier | £2,700£3k | £140,400£140k | Amiens SC | 31 | Defensive midfielder | France |
| 40 | Tuomas Ollila | £2,600£3k | £135,200£135k | En Avant Guingamp | 25 | Left-back, left midfielder | Finland |
| 41 | Sam Sanna | £2,600£3k | £135,200£135k | Stade Lavallois MFC | 26 | Defensive midfielder | France |
| 42 | Allan Ackra | £2,500£3k | £130,000£130k | Clermont Foot 63 | 21 | Defensive midfielder | France |
| 43 | Bahmed Deuff | £2,500£3k | £130,000£130k | FC Nantes | 19 | Defensive midfielder | France |
| 44 | Wilitty Younoussa | £2,400£2k | £124,800£125k | FC Nantes | 23 | Defensive midfielder | Cameroon |
| 45 | Cyril Mandouki | £2,400£2k | £124,800£125k | Stade Lavallois MFC | 33 | Defensive midfielder | Martinique |
| 46 | Daylam Meddah | £2,400£2k | £124,800£125k | Montpellier Hérault SC | 22 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | France |
| 47 | Yael Mouanga | £2,300£2k | £119,600£120k | Montpellier Hérault SC | 19 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | France |
| 48 | Jordan Mendes | £2,100£2k | £109,200£109k | Rodez Aveyron Football | 21 | Defensive midfielder | France |
| 49 | Quentin Daubin | £1,700£2k | £88,400£88k | Pau FC | 30 | Defensive midfielder | France |
| 50 | Teddy Bouriaud | £1,600£2k | £83,200£83k | Stade Lavallois MFC | 28 | Central midfielder | France |
What each position earns in Ligue 2
Average weekly wage of the players aged 22 or over we hold a wage for
Midfielders take 24% of what Ligue 2 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 Ligue 2 club, added together, a week
FC Nantes pay 12 midfielders £48,702 a week between them, and Ibou Sissoko takes 43% of it.
The best-paid midfielder at every Ligue 2 club
20 clubs, 2026/27, with where each ranks among the league's midfielders
| CLUB | PLAYER | WEEKLY | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|
| FC Nantes | Ibou Sissoko | £21,000£21k | 1 |
| Stade Lavallois MFC | Francis Coquelin | £19,000£19k | 2 |
| Montpellier Hérault SC | Florian Tardieu | £15,000£15k | 3 |
| AS Saint-Étienne | João Ferreira | £14,000£14k | 4 |
| FC Metz | Nampalys Mendy | £14,000£14k | 5 |
| AS Nancy Lorraine | Mamadou Fofana | £8,900£9k | 9 |
| Stade de Reims | Theo Leoni | £8,000£8k | 11 |
| Grenoble Foot 38 | Mael Corboz | £7,900£8k | 12 |
| Clermont Foot 63 | Rominigue Kouamé | £7,700£8k | 13 |
| Red Star FC | Mahamadou Diawara | £6,900£7k | 15 |
| Dijon FCO | Jordan Marié | £6,100£6k | 17 |
| Pau FC | Anthony Briançon | £5,500£6k | 19 |
| USL Dunkerque | Steven Nzonzi | £4,600£5k | 21 |
| En Avant Guingamp | Dylan Louiserre | £4,400£4k | 23 |
| Amiens SC | Thomas Monconduit | £3,600£4k | 27 |
| FC Sochaux-Montbéliard | Dylan Tavares | £3,400£3k | 31 |
| SC Bastia | Dominique Guidi | £3,400£3k | 30 |
| Rodez Aveyron Football | Jean-Lambert Evan's | £3,100£3k | 36 |
| FC Annecy | No wage held | - | - |
| US Boulogne CO | No wage held | - | - |
The best-paid midfielder in every men's league
43 leagues, ordered by their best-paid midfielder. Ligue 2 ranks 29th.
| 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 Ligue 2?
Ibou Sissoko of FC Nantes, on £21,000 a week in 2026/27, or £1,092,000 a year. Francis Coquelin of Stade Lavallois MFC is second on £19,000 a week.
How much do Ligue 2 midfielders earn?
The average Ligue 2 midfielder aged 22 or over earns £4,966 a week, and the median one £3,400. Midfielders take 24% of what Ligue 2 pays its players of that age.
Which Ligue 2 club pays its midfielders the most?
FC Nantes, £48,702 a week across the 12 midfielders we hold a wage for, led by Ibou Sissoko on £21,000.
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 Ligue 2 ranks 29th of the 43 leagues on that measure.
Where to next
The same Ligue 2 squads, cut a different way
See the highest paid Ligue 2 players in every position, the best-paid player at every club, what Ligue 2 players are paid at every age, or Ligue 2 wage bill, club by club.