THE best women footballers are getting the credit they deserve and the salaries to boot.
Buoyed by the success of the Lionesses famous Euros victory in 2022, many of those saw pay increases over the past year or so.
The WSL continues to gather more financial clout with clubs reporting higher revenues and there is a belief that it could even become a billion pound industry within a decade.
That means the players will only go on to earn more in the hope that equality with the men’s game will finally be achieved.
However, these Lionesses are currently raking it in for club and country – thanks to off the pitch sponsorships, as well as big pay days from their clubs.
Incredibly, England’s Euro 2022 top scorer and Ballon d’Or runner up Beth Mead does not feature.
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But who is the richest England Women’s star, according to figures online?
#10 Mary Earps, £1million
England’s No1 Earps saw her net worth sky rocket after her performances at the World Cup.
She is now believed to earn around £250,000-per-year as a Man Utd star.
Away from the pitch, she launched her own clothing range MAE27 after the furore over Nike not selling her jersey to fans.
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The 30-year-old is seen as the world’s best goalkeeper.
#10 Alessia Russo, £1million
Arsenal made Russo a priority signing in the summer from Man Utd.
Not only is she a brilliant centre forward, she is a commercial sportswoman.
The 24-year-old has deals with Adidas, Gucci, PlayStation and Beats by Dre.
Her contract with Arsenal is said to be worth more than £100,000 per annum.
8. Lauren Hemp, £1.1million
Back in 2022, Lauren, 23, signed a contract extension with Man City.
It is believed it bumped her wages up to £400,000 annually.
The four-time PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year winner is one of England’s most exciting players.
She is sponsored by Nike.
7. Alex Greenwood, £1.2million
A seasoned centre half for club and country, Greenwood’s consistency has seen her well-rewarded.
Her club, Man City are believed to pay her around £200,000-per-year.
Because of her status, Alex is now beginning to bring in more sponsors.
Garmin UK have just inked a deal with the defender.
6. Keira Walsh £1.4 million
In 2022, Walsh became the most expensive women’s footballer ever when Barcelona signed her from Man City for £400,000.
It is believed the Catalans pay her an annual salary over £100,000.
As a Nike athlete, the 26-year-old will also be on a retainer with them.
McDonald’s utilise her services for a fun day football sessions.
5. Fran Kirby, £1.6million
Kirby is reportedly paid around £310,000 per year at Chelsea.
She is also sponsored by Visa and Nike, so is likely to be on handsome deals with them.
The forward, 30, is the Blues all-time top scorer with 103 goals.
She is a two-time recipient of the PFA Women’s Players’ Player of the Year, in 2017 and 2021.
4. Lauren James, £1.8million
A rising star in the women’s game, Lauren isn’t even close to brother Reece James when it come to pay days.
But, it was reported she makes around £350,000-per-year at Chelsea.
Brands including Nike, Google Pixel, Optimum Nutrition, Barclays, and Sure all believe in her.
At just 22, Lauren is the future of the game.
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3. Chloe Kelly, £2.3million
The Man City forward, 25, became a cult hero after firing England to victory against the Germans in the Euro 2022 final.
Her brilliant and empowering celebration made her perfect fodder for sponsors, with Land Rover reportedly tying her up to a deal worth around £1.5million, and she posed for Calvin Klein.
It is not widely known how much she earns with her club.
However, the average base salary for a Man City player is £75,000.
2. Lucy Bronze, £3.5million
Lucy, 32, has been an established star of the women’s game for several years.
Currently starring at Barcelona, it was at Lyon the accolades kept pouring in.
She was named UEFA Women’s Player of the Year for 2018/19, the first defender to claim the award, The Best FIFA Women’s Player in 2020 and won the UEFA Women’s Champions League in all three of her Lyon seasons.
Over the course of her career, she struck deals Pepsi, EE and Visa.
1. Leah Williamson, £4million
Off the pitch, Arsenal star Leah is a pop culture icon.
The captain of the Euro 2022 may have faced time out of the game with an ACL injury, but she’s been big business.
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Her bank balance has been boosted by deals with Gucci, Nike and Pepsi.
While, the 26-year-old is said to earn around £150,000-per-year.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
