NATIONAL LEAGUE · MIDFIELDERS · 2026/27
Highest paid National League midfielders
Jake Rooney is the best-paid midfielder in the National League, on £4,100 a week at Boston United, or £213,200 a year. Callum Whelan is next on £3,400 at Carlisle United. We hold wages for 136 National League midfielders in 2026/27.
BEST PAID £4k
AVERAGE WAGE £1,293
SHARE OF WAGE BILL13%
TOP 10 A WEEK £28k
WAGES HELD136
The 50 best-paid National 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 | Jake Rooney | £4,100£4k | £213,200£213k | Boston United | 21 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | England |
| 2 | Callum Whelan | £3,400£3k | £176,800£177k | Carlisle United | 26 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | England |
| 3 | Zain Westbrooke | £3,000£3k | £156,000£156k | Scunthorpe United | 28 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | England |
| 4 | MJ Williams | £2,900£3k | £150,800£151k | Barrow AFC | 29 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | Wales |
| 5 | Rekeem Harper | £2,700£3k | £140,400£140k | Barrow AFC | 25 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | England |
| 6 | Ben Fox | £2,500£3k | £130,000£130k | Harrogate Town | 27 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | England |
| 7 | Bryn Morris | £2,500£3k | £130,000£130k | Harrogate Town | 29 | Defensive midfielder | England |
| 8 | Anthony Hartigan | £2,500£3k | £130,000£130k | Southend United | 25 | Defensive midfielder | England |
| 9 | Darren Oldaker | £2,400£2k | £124,800£125k | Southend United | 26 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | England |
| 10 | Emmanuel Osadebe | £2,300£2k | £119,600£120k | Sutton United | 28 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | Ireland |
| 11 | Harry Taylor | £2,200£2k | £114,400£114k | Southend United | 28 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | England |
| 12 | Josh Grant | £2,100£2k | £109,200£109k | Altrincham | 26 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | England |
| 13 | Jack Earing | £2,100£2k | £109,200£109k | Barrow AFC | 26 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | England |
| 14 | Josh Lundstram | £2,100£2k | £109,200£109k | Eastleigh | 26 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | England |
| 15 | Jordan Cousins | £2,100£2k | £109,200£109k | Eastleigh | 31 | Defensive midfielder | Jamaica |
| 16 | Luke McCormick | £2,000£2k | £104,000£104k | Yeovil Town | 26 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | England |
| 17 | Max Robson | £1,900£2k | £98,800£99k | Forest Green Rovers | 22 | Right-back, right midfielder | England |
| 18 | Ben Radcliffe | £1,500£2k | £78,000£78k | Gateshead | 21 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | England |
| 19 | Brett McGavin | £1,500£2k | £78,000£78k | Yeovil Town | 25 | Defensive midfielder | England |
| 20 | Warren Burrell | £1,400£1k | £72,800£73k | Harrogate Town | 35 | Defender, defensive midfielder | England |
| 21 | Cavaghn Miley | £1,400£1k | £72,800£73k | Southend United | 30 | Defensive midfielder | England |
| 22 | Harvey Macadam | £1,200£1k | £62,400£62k | Carlisle United | 24 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | England |
| 23 | Harvey Bunker | £1,200£1k | £62,400£62k | Carlisle United | 22 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | England |
| 24 | Jack Ellis | £1,100£1k | £57,200£57k | Carlisle United | 21 | Right-back, right midfielder | England |
| 25 | Jamie Miley | £1,100£1k | £57,200£57k | Hartlepool United | 21 | Defensive midfielder | England |
| 26 | Jake Cain | £1,100£1k | £57,200£57k | Morecambe | 23 | Left-back, defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | England |
| 27 | Jake Taylor | £1,100£1k | £57,200£57k | Sutton United | 33 | Defensive midfielder | Wales |
| 28 | Jake Forster-Caskey | £1,100£1k | £57,200£57k | Woking | 31 | Defensive midfielder | England |
| 29 | Aaron Henry | £1,000£1k | £52,000£52k | Wealdstone | 21 | Defensive midfielder | England |
| 30 | Cody Johnson | £930£930 | £48,360£48k | FC Halifax Town | 20 | Defensive midfielder | England |
| 31 | Isaac Marriott | £920£920 | £47,840£48k | Barrow AFC | 26 | Defensive midfielder | England |
| 32 | Jack Payne | £910£910 | £47,320£47k | Boreham Wood | 33 | Defensive midfielder | England |
| 33 | Jack Hunter | £910£910 | £47,320£47k | Hartlepool United | 27 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | England |
| 34 | Oliver Tipton | £910£910 | £47,320£47k | Solihull Moors | 21 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | England |
| 35 | Marley Marshall Miranda | £900£900 | £46,800£47k | Boreham Wood | 22 | Defensive midfielder | Spain |
| 36 | Miguel Azeez | £900£900 | £46,800£47k | Carlisle United | 22 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | England |
| 37 | Nathan Sheron | £900£900 | £46,800£47k | Hartlepool United | 27 | Right-back, defensive midfielder | England |
| 38 | Anthony Georgiou | £900£900 | £46,800£47k | Woking | 28 | Left-back, left midfielder | Cyprus |
| 39 | Charlie O'Connell | £880£880 | £45,760£46k | Boreham Wood | 22 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | England |
| 40 | James Waite | £860£860 | £44,720£45k | Eastleigh | 26 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | Wales |
| 41 | Kian Breckin | £850£850 | £44,200£44k | Altrincham | 21 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | England |
| 42 | Arjan Raikhy | £850£850 | £44,200£44k | Boston United | 22 | Defensive midfielder | England |
| 43 | Liam Humbles | £840£840 | £43,680£44k | Altrincham | 21 | Defensive midfielder | England |
| 44 | Chibuzo Nwoko | £830£830 | £43,160£43k | Forest Green Rovers | 19 | Defensive midfielder | England |
| 45 | Tom Crawford | £810£810 | £42,120£42k | Altrincham | 26 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | England |
| 46 | Jacob Butterfield | £810£810 | £42,120£42k | Scunthorpe United | 35 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | England |
| 47 | Oli Ewing | £800£800 | £41,600£42k | Forest Green Rovers | 22 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | Wales |
| 48 | Paul Lewis | £800£800 | £41,600£42k | Morecambe | 30 | Defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder | England |
| 49 | Jordan Richards | £760£760 | £39,520£40k | Scunthorpe United | 28 | Defensive midfielder | England |
| 50 | Oscar Rutherford | £760£760 | £39,520£40k | Solihull Moors | 21 | Right-back, right midfielder | England |
What each position earns in the National League
Average weekly wage of the players aged 22 or over we hold a wage for
Midfielders take 13% of what the National 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 National League club, added together, a week
Barrow AFC pay 6 midfielders £9,820 a week between them, and MJ Williams takes 30% of it.
The best-paid midfielder at every National League club
21 clubs, 2026/27, with where each ranks among the league's midfielders
| CLUB | PLAYER | WEEKLY | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston United | Jake Rooney | £4,100£4k | 1 |
| Carlisle United | Callum Whelan | £3,400£3k | 2 |
| Scunthorpe United | Zain Westbrooke | £3,000£3k | 3 |
| Barrow AFC | MJ Williams | £2,900£3k | 4 |
| Southend United | Anthony Hartigan | £2,500£3k | 8 |
| Harrogate Town | Ben Fox | £2,500£3k | 6 |
| Sutton United | Emmanuel Osadebe | £2,300£2k | 10 |
| Eastleigh | Josh Lundstram | £2,100£2k | 14 |
| Altrincham | Josh Grant | £2,100£2k | 12 |
| Yeovil Town | Luke McCormick | £2,000£2k | 16 |
| Forest Green Rovers | Max Robson | £1,900£2k | 17 |
| Gateshead | Ben Radcliffe | £1,500£2k | 18 |
| Woking | Jake Forster-Caskey | £1,100£1k | 28 |
| Hartlepool United | Jamie Miley | £1,100£1k | 25 |
| Morecambe | Jake Cain | £1,100£1k | 26 |
| Wealdstone | Aaron Henry | £1,000£1k | 29 |
| FC Halifax Town | Cody Johnson | £930£930 | 30 |
| Boreham Wood | Jack Payne | £910£910 | 32 |
| Solihull Moors | Oliver Tipton | £910£910 | 34 |
| Tamworth | Ben Milnes | £640£640 | 59 |
| Aldershot Town | Mark Holley | £150£150 | 98 |
The best-paid midfielder in every men's league
43 leagues, ordered by their best-paid midfielder. The National League ranks 39th.
| 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 National League?
Jake Rooney of Boston United, on £4,100 a week in 2026/27, or £213,200 a year. Callum Whelan of Carlisle United is second on £3,400 a week.
How much do National League midfielders earn?
The average National League midfielder aged 22 or over earns £1,293 a week, and the median one £900. Midfielders take 13% of what the National League pays its players of that age.
Which National League club pays its midfielders the most?
Barrow AFC, £9,820 a week across the 6 midfielders we hold a wage for, led by MJ Williams on £2,900.
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 National League ranks 39th of the 43 leagues on that measure.
Where to next
The same National League squads, cut a different way
See the highest paid National League players in every position, the best-paid player at every club, what National League players are paid at every age, or the National League wage bill, club by club.