Haaland and Salah Ranked Among UK’s Top 100 Taxpayers

Manchester City’s talismanic striker Erling Haaland and Liverpool’s iconic forward Mohamed Salah have broken new ground by becoming the first footballers to feature in the Sunday Times Tax List’s top 100. The annual rankings, released this weekend, highlight the staggering fiscal contributions of the Premier League’s biggest stars, placing them alongside the nation’s wealthiest business magnates and celebrities.

Haaland, who recently turned 25, leads the footballing contingent at 72nd on the overall list. Following a lucrative contract extension last year that keeps him at the Etihad until 2034, the Norwegian international reportedly earns a base salary of £525,000 per week. When performance bonuses and image rights are factored in—estimated at an additional £10 million annually—Haaland’s total tax contribution to the UK Treasury reached a massive £16.9 million over the past year.

Close behind is Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, ranked 81st. The 33-year-old Egyptian, who remains the centerpiece of the Anfield attack despite a publicized friction with head coach Arne Slot earlier this season, pays an estimated £14.5 million in tax. Salah’s earnings are anchored by a £400,000 weekly wage and significant annual bonuses, solidifying his position as one of the most economically impactful athletes in British history.

The top of the Tax List continues to be dominated by the betting industry. Fred and Peter Done, the billionaire brothers behind Betfred, claimed the top spot for the first time with a record-breaking £400.1 million contribution. They are followed by financial tech entrepreneur Alex Gerko and hedge fund titan Chris Rokos, both of whom paid over £330 million. Other notable figures featured include author JK Rowling at £47.5 million and pop sensation Harry Styles at £24.7 million.

While Haaland and Salah cement their financial legacies in England, Oleksandr Zinchenko is officially closing his chapter in the Premier League. The Ukraine international completed a permanent move from Arsenal to Dutch giants Ajax on Sunday, February 1, 2026. The deal, worth approximately £1.3 million (€1.5 million), was finalized after the 29-year-old successfully passed a medical in Amsterdam.

Zinchenko’s departure follows a frustrating first half of the season on loan at Nottingham Forest, where he struggled for regular minutes under Sean Dyche. Having fallen down the pecking order at Arsenal due to the rise of Riccardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly, the versatile left-back opted for a fresh start in the Eredivisie. He has signed an initial six-month contract with Ajax, with a long-term future to be discussed this summer.

The transfer marks a return to the Netherlands for Zinchenko, who spent the 2016-17 season on loan at PSV Eindhoven. Arsenal expressed their gratitude to the defender, who was a key figure in their recent title challenges after joining from Manchester City in 2022. As the January transfer window shuts, Zinchenko’s move represents one of the final significant shifts for a “Big Six” player looking for a career resurgence abroad.