THAI LEAGUE · DEFENDERS · 2026/27
Highest paid Thai League defenders
Erik Sviatchenko is the best-paid defender in the Thai League, on £14,000 a week at Port FC, or £728,000 a year. Ko Myung-Suk is next on £7,000 at Buriram United. We hold wages for 121 Thai League defenders in 2026/27.
BEST PAID £14k
AVERAGE WAGE £2,172
SHARE OF WAGE BILL32%
TOP 10 A WEEK £71k
WAGES HELD121
The 50 best-paid Thai League 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 | Erik Sviatchenko | £14,000£14k | £728,000£728k | Port FC | 33 | Centre-back | Denmark |
| 2 | Ko Myung-Suk | £7,000£7k | £364,000£364k | Buriram United | 29 | Defender | South Korea |
| 3 | Kingsley Schindler | £7,000£7k | £364,000£364k | Buriram United | 32 | Right-back, right winger | Ghana |
| 4 | Wendell | £7,000£7k | £364,000£364k | Chiangrai United | 31 | Left-back | Brazil |
| 5 | Victor Cardozo (Victor Mattos Cardozo) | £6,500£7k | £338,000£338k | Chiangrai United | 35 | Centre-back | Brazil |
| 6 | Everton | £6,300£6k | £327,600£328k | Bangkok United | 35 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | Brazil |
| 7 | Fabio Kaufmann | £6,300£6k | £327,600£328k | BG Pathum United | 32 | Right wing-back, attacking midfielder | Germany |
| 8 | Riku Matsuda | £5,700£6k | £296,400£296k | BG Pathum United | 33 | Centre-back | Japan |
| 9 | Sandy Walsh | £5,600£6k | £291,200£291k | Buriram United | 30 | Defender | Indonesia |
| 10 | Sai van Wermeskerken | £5,600£6k | £291,200£291k | Ratchaburi FC | 31 | Full-back | Japan |
| 11 | Curtis Good | £5,400£5k | £280,800£281k | Buriram United | 32 | Centre-back | Australia |
| 12 | Elias Dolah | £5,300£5k | £275,600£276k | BG Pathum United | 32 | Centre-back | Thailand |
| 13 | Filip Stojković | £5,300£5k | £275,600£276k | Buriram United | 32 | Centre-back, right midfielder | Montenegro |
| 14 | John-Patrick Strauß | £5,100£5k | £265,200£265k | Bangkok United | 29 | Right-back | Philippines |
| 15 | Jonathan Khemdee | £5,100£5k | £265,200£265k | Ratchaburi FC | 23 | Centre-back | Thailand |
| 16 | Noboru Shimura | £4,900£5k | £254,800£255k | Port FC | 32 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | Japan |
| 17 | Sidcley | £4,600£5k | £239,200£239k | Ratchaburi FC | 32 | Left-back, left midfielder | Brazil |
| 18 | Asnawi Mangkualam | £4,500£5k | £234,000£234k | Port FC | 25 | Full-back | Indonesia |
| 19 | Aírton | £4,500£5k | £234,000£234k | Prachuap FC | 34 | Centre-back | Brazil |
| 20 | Jorge Fellipe | £4,100£4k | £213,200£213k | Chonburi FC | 36 | Centre-back | Brazil |
| 21 | Irfan Fandi | £4,100£4k | £213,200£213k | Port FC | 27 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | Singapore |
| 22 | João Afonso | £4,100£4k | £213,200£213k | Rayong FC | 30 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | Brazil |
| 23 | Michael Kempter | £3,900£4k | £202,800£203k | Muangthong United | 30 | Left-back, left midfielder | Philippines |
| 24 | Matheus Lins | £3,900£4k | £202,800£203k | Port FC | 24 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | Brazil |
| 25 | Philipe Maia | £3,800£4k | £197,600£198k | Bangkok United | 30 | Centre-back | Brazil |
| 26 | Rebin Sulaka | £3,700£4k | £192,400£192k | Port FC | 33 | Centre-back | Iraq |
| 27 | Theerathon Bunmathan | £3,600£4k | £187,200£187k | Buriram United | 35 | Left-back, central midfielder | Thailand |
| 28 | Uroš Radaković | £3,500£4k | £182,000£182k | Buriram United | 31 | Centre-back | Serbia |
| 29 | Cláudio | £3,400£3k | £176,800£177k | Sukhothai FC | 32 | Centre-back | Brazil |
| 30 | Hugo Boutsingkham | £3,200£3k | £166,400£166k | Port FC | 22 | Left-back, central midfielder | Thailand |
| 31 | Jesper Nyholm | £3,100£3k | £161,200£161k | Prachuap FC | 31 | Centre-back | Philippines |
| 32 | Jesse Curran | £3,100£3k | £161,200£161k | Ratchaburi FC | 28 | Right-back, right midfielder | Philippines |
| 33 | Kritsada Kaman | £3,000£3k | £156,000£156k | BG Pathum United | 26 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | Thailand |
| 34 | Nika Sandokhadze | £2,900£3k | £150,800£151k | BG Pathum United | 31 | Centre-back | Georgia |
| 35 | Nenad Lalić | £2,900£3k | £150,800£151k | Nakhon Ratchasima FC | 26 | Centre-back | Serbia |
| 36 | Tristan Do | £2,600£3k | £135,200£135k | Chonburi FC | 32 | Right-back, right midfielder | Thailand |
| 37 | Tanaboon Kesarat | £2,600£3k | £135,200£135k | Port FC | 31 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | Thailand |
| 38 | Arhan | £2,500£3k | £130,000£130k | Bangkok United | 23 | Left-back | Indonesia |
| 39 | Bernardo Vilar | £2,500£3k | £130,000£130k | Prachuap FC | 27 | Centre-back | Brazil |
| 40 | Apisit Sorada | £2,500£3k | £130,000£130k | Ratchaburi FC | 28 | Left-back | Thailand |
| 41 | Charalampos Charalampous | £2,400£2k | £124,800£125k | Uthai Thani FC | 26 | Full-back, left midfielder | Thailand |
| 42 | Eduardo Mancha | £2,300£2k | £119,600£120k | Buriram United | 29 | Centre-back | Brazil |
| 43 | Hélio Baptista | £2,200£2k | £114,400£114k | Chiangrai United | 35 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | Brazil |
| 44 | Gabriel Mutombo | £2,200£2k | £114,400£114k | Ratchaburi FC | 29 | Centre-back | France |
| 45 | Jakkapan Praisuwan | £2,100£2k | £109,200£109k | Buriram United | 30 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | Thailand |
| 46 | Kevin Deeromram | £2,000£2k | £104,000£104k | Ratchaburi FC | 27 | Left-back | Thailand |
| 47 | Leonardo Justiniano | £2,000£2k | £104,000£104k | Rayong FC | 23 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | Bolivia |
| 48 | Narubadin Weerawatnodom | £1,900£2k | £98,800£99k | Buriram United | 31 | Right-back | Thailand |
| 49 | Nattapong Sayriya | £1,900£2k | £98,800£99k | Chonburi FC | 33 | Centre-back, defensive midfielder | Thailand |
| 50 | Pansa Hemviboon | £1,800£2k | £93,600£94k | Buriram United | 35 | Centre-back | Thailand |
What each position earns in the Thai League
Average weekly wage of the players aged 22 or over we hold a wage for
Defenders take 32% of what the Thai 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 defenders the most
Every defender wage we hold at each Thai League club, added together, a week
Buriram United pay 15 defenders £48,221 a week between them, and Ko Myung-Suk takes 15% of it.
The best-paid defender at every Thai League club
18 clubs, 2026/27, with where each ranks among the league's defenders
| CLUB | PLAYER | WEEKLY | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port FC | Erik Sviatchenko | £14,000£14k | 1 |
| Buriram United | Ko Myung-Suk | £7,000£7k | 2 |
| Chiangrai United | Wendell | £7,000£7k | 4 |
| BG Pathum United | Fabio Kaufmann | £6,300£6k | 7 |
| Bangkok United | Everton | £6,300£6k | 6 |
| Ratchaburi FC | Sai van Wermeskerken | £5,600£6k | 10 |
| Prachuap FC | Aírton | £4,500£5k | 19 |
| Chonburi FC | Jorge Fellipe | £4,100£4k | 20 |
| Rayong FC | João Afonso | £4,100£4k | 22 |
| Muangthong United | Michael Kempter | £3,900£4k | 23 |
| Sukhothai FC | Cláudio | £3,400£3k | 29 |
| Nakhon Ratchasima FC | Nenad Lalić | £2,900£3k | 35 |
| Uthai Thani FC | Charalampos Charalampous | £2,400£2k | 41 |
| Rasisalai United | Nelson Orji | £934£934 | 64 |
| Sisaket United | Anusak Jaiphet | £730£730 | 73 |
| Ayutthaya United | Warinthon Jamnongwat | £717£717 | 74 |
| Lamphun Warrior | Todsapol Lated | £593£593 | 85 |
| Pattani FC | Nattayos Phonyiam | £279£279 | 103 |
The best-paid defender in every men's league
43 leagues, ordered by their best-paid defender. The Thai League ranks 31st.
| 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 the Thai League?
Erik Sviatchenko of Port FC, on £14,000 a week in 2026/27, or £728,000 a year. Ko Myung-Suk of Buriram United is second on £7,000 a week.
How much do Thai League defenders earn?
The average Thai League defender aged 22 or over earns £2,172 a week, and the median one £1,350. Defenders take 32% of what the Thai League pays its players of that age.
Which Thai League club pays its defenders the most?
Buriram United, £48,221 a week across the 15 defenders we hold a wage for, led by Ko Myung-Suk on £7,000.
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 the Thai League ranks 31st of the 43 leagues on that measure.
Where to next
The same Thai League squads, cut a different way
See the highest paid Thai League players in every position, the best-paid player at every club, what Thai League players are paid at every age, or the Thai League wage bill, club by club.