Andreas Christensen, the Danish center-back, has carved out a notable career, transitioning from Chelsea’s youth ranks to becoming a key figure in Barcelona’s defensive line. Since joining the Catalan giants in 2022 on a free transfer, his role has been pivotal, blending tactical intelligence with composure on the ball. However, in a club historically known for its lavish spending and current financial constraints, questions about player salaries, including Christensen’s, are ever-relevant. This article delves into Christensen’s earnings at Barcelona, compares his wages to the club’s top earners, and contextualizes his pay within the broader landscape of La Liga’s highest-paid players.
Andreas Christensen salary at Barcelona
Christensen’s salary at Barcelona reflects his status as a seasoned defender with significant European experience. For the 2024-2025 season, he earns an estimated gross base salary of €9,000,000 annually, translating to approximately €173,077 per week, excluding bonuses. His contract, which runs until June 30, 2026, has €18,000,000 gross remaining over its final two years.
Reports from 2022, when he joined, suggested a net salary of around €6.5 million per season, with some sources indicating a fixed net salary of €4.5 million that could reach €6.5 million with performance-related bonuses. These figures highlight Barcelona’s strategy of balancing competitive wages with financial prudence, especially for free agents like Christensen.
Highest earners at Barcelona
Barcelona’s wage bill, despite efforts to curb spending, remains substantial, with top players commanding hefty salaries. Frenkie de Jong stands as the club’s highest earner, reportedly taking home €37.5 million annually, a figure inflated by deferred payments from the COVID-19 era. Robert Lewandowski follows as the second-highest earner, with a gross annual salary of €33.33 million, or roughly €640,962 per week, reflecting his status as a prolific goal-scorer and global star.
Other notable high earners include Dani Olmo and Inigo Martinez, both on approximately €9.38 million per year, matching Christensen’s base salary. Young talents like Pedri and Gavi, while integral to the squad, earn significantly less, with salaries structured to reflect their long-term potential rather than immediate market value. Barcelona’s financial challenges have led to departures of high earners like Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets, but the club still allocates €201.12 million annually for first-team salaries, underscoring the delicate balance between competitiveness and fiscal recovery.
Highest earners in La Liga
In La Liga, Frenkie de Jong not only leads Barcelona but also the entire league, with his €721,000 weekly wage setting a benchmark. This figure, however, is partly due to deferred payments, making direct comparisons complex. Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, both earning around €469,000 per week, represent the upper echelon of the Spanish top flight, though their salaries have been adjusted as their careers wind down.
Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak, with a weekly wage of approximately €400,000, is another standout, though his manager Diego Simeone dwarfs him with a reported €670,000 per week, making him the highest-paid coach globally. Outside the traditional top three clubs, Athletic Club’s Inaki Williams earns €219,000 per week, a rare high salary for a non-elite club. Barcelona’s Lewandowski remains among the league’s top five earners, but the departure of stars like Karim Benzema and Eden Hazard from Real Madrid has slightly eased the wage pressure across La Liga.