The Top 10 Highest-Paid Defenders In World Football

Virgil van Dijk is set to climb into the top ten highest-paid defenders in world football if he pens a new five-year deal that is reportedly going to be offered to him.

The Dutch defender is said to earn a basic wage of £125,000 on his current deal from when he signed for £75 million from Southampton in 2018.

But Wayne Veysey from Football Insider reports that Van Dijk is in line for a £75,000 increase to give him wages of £200,000 when bonuses are factored in.

It would be no more than the former Celtic man deserves after another imperious season at the heart of the Liverpool backline, but he's still relatively low down on the list of the highest-earning defenders.

Image: PA

His Netherlands centre-back partner Matthijs de Ligt would still be making considerably more at Juventus, as he rakes in a whopping £416,000-a-week including bonuses after Mino Raiola landed him a lucrative deal in the summer.

35-year old Paris Saint-Germain captain Thiago Silva is still earning a reported £300,000-a-week, with his teammate Marquinhos said to be taking home £216,000.

Barcelona defensive pair Gerard Pique and Samuel Umtiti both earn more than £200,000, with Real Madrid duo Sergio Ramos and Marcelo not far behind in terms of their pay packets.

Image: PA

With wages of £190,000 at Manchester United, captain Harry Maguire is currently the highest-paid defender in England following his £80 million transfer, though Van Dijk would eclipse him if Liverpool follow through and finalise what has been deemed a "priority" extension.

List of highest-paid defenders if Van Dijk signs his rumoured new deal:

1. Matthijs de Ligt - £416,000-a-week

2. Thiago Silva - £300,000-a-week

3. Lucas Hernandez - £250,000-a-week

4. Gerard Pique - £220,000-a-week

5. Marquinhos - £216,000-week

6. Samuel Umtiti - £210,000-a-week

7. Virgil van Dijk - £200,000-a-week

8. Sergio Ramos - £200,000-a-week

9. Marcelo - £200,000-a-week

10. Harry Maguire - £190,000-a-week

Meanwhile, the Liverpool squad are set to share a huge £4 million bonus if they win the club's first league title in 30 years, with first-teamers like van Dijk poised to earn around £150,000 on top of the standard win bonuses they already get.

Topics: Football News, Sergio Ramos, Football, Thiago Silva, Gerard Pique, Premier League, Virgil Van Dijk

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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