Frenkie de Jong, the Dutch midfield maestro, has been a pivotal figure for FC Barcelona since his arrival from Ajax in 2019. Renowned for his vision, passing, and versatility, de Jong has cemented his place as one of the world’s elite midfielders. However, his financial compensation has often been a topic of debate, with conflicting reports about his earnings fueling speculation. Amid Barcelona’s well-documented financial struggles, de Jong’s salary has drawn scrutiny, especially as the club navigates high wage bills and deferred payments. This article delves into the details of de Jong’s earnings at Barcelona, compares him to the club’s top earners, and places his salary in the context of La Liga’s highest-paid players, using the most recent and reliable data available.
Frenkie de Jong salary at Barcelona
De Jong’s salary at Barcelona is substantial, reflecting his status as a key player and one of the club’s highest earners. According to a September 2024 report from SPORT, de Jong’s gross annual salary for the 2024-2025 season comprises a fixed wage of €19 million and a fixed bonus of €4.2 million, totaling €23.2 million annually, or approximately €446,154 per week. This figure is notably lower than earlier reports, which claimed de Jong earned as much as €37.5 million per year, a number he publicly refuted in an interview with Barcelona One, stating, “That’s a very big figure and is a long way off what I really earn.”
The inflated €37.5 million figure stemmed from deferred wages agreed upon during the COVID-19 pandemic, when de Jong and other players accepted temporary pay cuts to support the club’s non-playing staff. These deferred amounts, combined with his base salary, created a perception of an exorbitant wage. Capology estimates his base salary at €19 million for the 2024-2025 season, aligning with SPORT’s figures, with his contract running until June 30, 2026. Despite his high earnings, de Jong has emphasized that his actual take-home pay is significantly less than reported, and ongoing contract renewal talks suggest Barcelona may adjust his salary structure to remove deferrals while maintaining a competitive wage.
Highest earners at Barcelona
At Barcelona, de Jong is among the top earners, but he is not the highest-paid player. According to Capology, Robert Lewandowski leads the club’s wage bill for the 2024-2025 season with an estimated gross annual base salary of €33.33 million, or €640,962 per week. The 36-year-old Polish striker, whose contract includes a rising salary scale, outpaces all teammates. Following Lewandowski, de Jong’s €23.2 million places him second, though earlier reports from 2022 suggested he briefly held the top spot with a weekly wage of €721,154, largely due to deferred payments.
Other high earners include Jules Koundé, who earns approximately €13 million annually (€250,000 per week), and Pedri, with a yearly salary of around €12.5 million (€240,385 per week). Dani Olmo and Iñigo Martínez both earn €9.38 million per year, while young stars like Gavi (€9.38 million) and Lamine Yamal (€180,000 per week, per AiScore) reflect Barcelona’s investment in their academy graduates. The club’s total gross salary expenditure for the 2024-2025 season is estimated at €201.12 million, or €3.87 million per week, highlighting the financial strain despite efforts to reduce the wage bill under president Joan Laporta.
Highest earners in La Liga
In La Liga, de Jong ranks among the top earners, though his €23.2 million annual salary places him below a few elite players. Capology’s 2024-2025 data lists Robert Lewandowski as the league’s highest earner at €33.33 million, followed closely by Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé, who earns €26.35 million annually. Mbappé, the headline signing for Real Madrid, is joined by teammates David Alaba (€18.97 million), Vinícius Júnior (€17.57 million), and Jude Bellingham (€17.47 million), all of whom outearn de Jong. Atlético Madrid’s Jan Oblak also surpasses de Jong with a salary of €17.47 million.
De Jong’s €15.94 million base salary (per AiScore) ranks him seventh among La Liga’s highest-paid players for the 2024-2025 season, though his total earnings, including bonuses, elevate him higher. The presence of six Real Madrid players in the top ten underscores the financial dominance of Los Blancos, while Barcelona’s high earners reflect their ongoing challenge to balance star salaries with fiscal recovery. La Liga’s salary cap further complicates matters, yet both Barcelona and Real Madrid continue to offer lucrative contracts to retain and attract talent.