Europa League 2025/26 Wage Bill: The Richest and Lowest-Spending Clubs |

The Europa League this season offers one of the clearest financial contrasts in recent memory. Some clubs enter the competition with near-Champions League budgets; others punch far below that level. The gap between top spenders and those operating on micro-budgets is large.

That gap matters for squad depth, for the ability to rotate, for dealing with injuries, and for making European nights count.

On one side, you have clubs like Aston Villa and Fenerbahçe stroking wage bills in the triple-digit millions (in euros). On the other you have clubs that appear almost amateur in comparison, operating on annual wage bills in the single-digit millions.

The shape of those budgets immediately suggests different routes to performance, different strategic imperatives, and different tolerances for risk.

Understanding wage bills is not just an accounting exercise. It gives a sense of how clubs prioritise resources: how many players they can retain, how many they rotate, how much leeway they have when injuries bite, and how much pressure there is to deliver.

It also offers clues to European ambition: are you here to progress deep, or are you here for the principle and to make the most of what you have?

Let’s break it down, from the highest spenders through the mid-tier, then the more constrained outfits. Along the way, we’ll pull out some of the key issues.

Contents

Elite spenders

Elite spenders

Europa League 2025/26 Wage Bill: The Richest and Lowest-Spending Clubs

At the very top of the wage-bill list are clubs with clear ambition. Their budgets reflect not just domestic intent but a belief they can make serious inroads in European competition.

1. Aston Villa – €128.5 m

The highest-reported wage bill among Europa League entrants this season. A club with Premier League resources, looking to leverage them in Europe.

That level of payroll gives Villa the mechanical ability to field deeper squads, rotate, and handle congested fixtures, something many other clubs cannot.

2. Fenerbahçe – €108.7 m

This is a Turkish powerhouse with continental aspirations, and the wage bill shows it. Competing domestically with heavy investment and now carrying that into Europe.

3. Nottingham Forest – €96.2 m

Forest enters with one of the largest budgets among non-elite European clubs. Clearly, the owners and management are backing a project of growth, both domestically and in continental competition.

4. AS Roma – €95.2 m

A traditional European name seeking resurgence. Their wage bill places them firmly among those building rather than rebuilding, signalling intent in the Europa League.

5. Real Betis – €67.1 m

The drop from the top four to the fifth is stark. But this is still a substantial budget in the context of the Europa League. Betis is working with a wage structure that allows professionalism, depth, and flexibility.

Key point: Those top five wage bills span from €67m to €129m. They suggest a class of clubs that can deploy squads with significant depth, absorb fixture congestion, and expect to advance beyond the group stages. They set a benchmark for the competition.

Upper mid-tier

Below the elite spenders is a broad band of clubs operating competitive but more constrained budgets. They may not have the luxury to incur multiple injury blows and still rotate with ease, but they have strength, infrastructure and expectations of impact.

Clubs in this bracket include:

VfB Stuttgart – €49.9 m
SC Freiburg – €45 m
Bologna FC – €44.9 m
OGC Nice – €42.5 m
Lille OSC – €40.8 m
Olympique Lyonnais – €35.9 m

What this range tells us:

Squad rotation is possible, but perhaps at a cost. There may be fewer high-paying “premium” players, meaning depth is less star-rich.
Injuries to key players may have a bigger impact.
These clubs might treat Europa League group stages and knockout rounds as big opportunities, but may also need to pick and choose how aggressively they deploy resources.
The “second-tier” spenders are in many ways the heart of the Europa League, bridging the gap between the very wealthy and the modest.

Balanced budgets

Further down the ladder, we have clubs working on wage bills in the €20m-30m range. These are serious operations, but they don’t come with the safety net of big spending. They often rely on astute management, young talent, strong culture, and efficient scouting.

Clubs in this bracket include:

Celta Vigo – €31.2 m
FC Porto – €30 m
Celtic FC – €29.3 m
Rangers FC – €25.5 m
Feyenoord – €24.2 m

What this range tells us:

These teams may not have the absolute financial muscle, but they often have stability, consistency and a well-run setup.
They may view the Europa League as a major chance to boost their profile, revenue, and attract players.
The challenge is whether they can match depth and talent with the higher spenders when push comes to shove.
Cost-control is vital: missteps in squad investment can have outsized consequences.

Smaller contenders

Below the €20m mark, we enter a zone of clubs that qualify for the competition more through cleverness, resilience, or domestic dominance than sheer financial firepower. These clubs often push for a good showing, but do so with far fewer resources.

Clubs in this bracket include:

Panathinaikos FC – €16.5 m
Red Bull Salzburg – €16.4 m
BSC Young Boys – €13.9 m
FC Basel – €13.7 m
FC Midtjylland – €12.2 m

What this range tells us:

Fewer marquee names, fewer big earners, and less margin for error.
Likely that these squads lean more heavily on youth, player sales, and internal development.
Running a cup run or deep European campaign might strain resources (travel costs, depth, managing fatigue).
But these clubs often have high motivation: being in the Europa League is a chance to punch above their weight, raise their brand, attract better players, and generate revenue.

Lowest spenders

Finally, at the base of the table are clubs whose wage bills are low by continental standards. Spreads here drop well below €10m. To compete at this level with such budgets is an uphill task; yet their presence in the competition is proof of domestic success, ambition, or exceptional management.

Clubs in this bracket include:

Malmö FF – €9.89 m
FC Utrecht – €8.9 m
PFC Ludogorets Razgrad – €8.89 m
KRC Genk – €8.7 m
Red Star Belgrade – €7.7 m
Ferencváros TC – €7.18 m
Maccabi Tel Aviv – €6.5 m
Go Ahead Eagles – €4.94 m
Viktoria Plzeň – €4.5 m
SK Brann – €4.29 m
FCSB – €3.2 m

What this range tells us:

The odds are stacked. Meeting higher-budget opposition means organising extremely efficiently.
Typical strategy: strong domestic performance to get into Europe, then making the most of each fixture.
Success often depends on tactical discipline, scouting, youth, and a healthy dose of realism in what is achievable.
Financial sustainability matters hugely: overspending relative to budget can be dangerous.

What the wage-bill spread means for competition

Seeing the wage-bill spectrum in the Europa League raises several observations and possible implications for how the competition might play out.

Depth and rotation matter: Clubs at the top end can rotate more freely. They can rest key players in domestic games and still field strong sides in Europe. The mid-tier and lower-tier clubs don’t always have that luxury. Fatigue, fixture congestion, and injuries weigh heavily on them.

Risk tolerance differs: A club with €100m+ wage bill may view elimination at the group stage as a disappointment but not an existential threat to its season. A club with a €5m wage bill may view a few bad fixtures as potentially season-defining. The margin for error is smaller.

Upsets become more meaningful: When a lower-budget club beats a higher-budget side, the significance is magnified because they are overcoming not just an opponent but the underlying resource gap. These results become statements. They can also boost morale and attract attention.

Strategic choices diverge: For example, should a lower-budget club prioritise domestic survival or Europa League? Some may rest players in Europe to prioritise league; others might gamble in Europe to raise profile and revenue. Higher-budget clubs may have the luxury to push in both competitions.

Revenue and exposure are vital: Regardless of wage bill, participation in Europe brings increased exposure, higher match-day income (especially if hosting strong opponents), broadcasting revenue and sponsorship uplift. For smaller clubs, a good European run can shift the balance of their budget for years to come.

Wage bill is not everything: While critical, wage bill is a proxy; it doesn’t automatically translate to success. Coaching, recruitment, youth development, culture and luck all matter. A club spending heavily can underperform. A lower-spend club can punch above its weight. But all things being equal, the financial capability gives a baseline advantage.

Highlighted club stories

Aston Villa

With the largest reported wage bill among Europa League entrants (€128.5 m), Villa stand out. For a club recent to this level of European competition (still building its continental credentials), the budget signals a major step.

The expectation will be to go beyond the group stage, to show consistency, and justify that level of investment. The challenge will be sustaining the performance, managing the mix of domestic and European fixtures, and delivering ambition.

Fenerbahçe

At €108.7 m, Fenerbahçe matches the highest-budget teams in Europe outside the absolute elite leagues. Turkish football has high stakes and this is a club used to big ambitions. In Europa League competition, they’ll expect to go far and have the capacity to build a squad capable of doing so.

For them, the challenge will partly be continuity. European campaigns demand mental and physical stamina across months.

FC Porto & Celtic / Rangers

Porto (€30 m), plus the Scottish giants Celtic (€29.3 m) and Rangers (€25.5 m), offer an interesting comparison. These clubs often operate sustainably: strong scouting, youth development, clear identity.

They may not have the biggest budgets here, but they have infrastructure, experience and ambition. They can be very dangerous in the Europa League because they know how to manage competing demands, and they have the culture of European football baked in.

Young Boys / FC Basel / Midtjylland

In the €12-14 m range, clubs like Young Boys, Basel, Midtjylland reflect another tier: competent, competitive continental clubs that don’t have mega-budgets, but know their league and know how to punch.

Their challenge is that when they come up against teams with three or four times their wage bill, they may still find the margin thin. But they offer intrigue: well-organised clubs, entrenchment in European competition, and potential for surprise.

FCSB & SK Brann

At the lowest end (~€3.2 m and ~€4.29 m respectively), we have clubs that have made the Europa League by domestic success and now face a steep challenge in Europe.

Their budgets mean that every game is a big opportunity and likely a big gamble. For them, Europe may provide revenue, exposure, and experience. But staying competitive in the group or knockout phase will require near-flawless execution.

The risk of imbalance and sustainability

A major theme is sustainability. Clubs with high wage bills must justify them with performance. Financial fair play regulations, squad-cost ratios, and the broader economic landscape mean that overspending without performance can backfire.

A big wage bill is only safe if the club can service it, both financially and in terms of results.

On the flip side, smaller clubs face the danger of being squeezed. If domestic leagues don’t deliver revenue or if European runs fall short, budgets can be under pressure. Also, the risk of brain-drain (losing talents to richer clubs) is higher when wages are low.

That said, many smaller clubs have learned to live with that and structure themselves accordingly.

Importantly, the Europa League wage landscape shows that being realistic about budget is not a barrier to meaningful performance. Some clubs use lower budgets wisely, target efficient recruitment, and build identity rather than relying purely on resources. The financial gap matters, but it is not insurmountable.

How this might play out on the pitch

From a footballing perspective, the wage bill distribution suggests several likely patterns:

The clubs at the top (Villa, Fenerbahçe, Roma, Forest, Betis) will be favourites in their groups. Their depth, individual quality and expectation should see them through to at least the knockout rounds.
Clubs in the ~€30-50m bracket may be the “dark horses”. They have enough budget to challenge, enough professionalism to go far, but might be vulnerable to the fatigue or injury issues that richer squads can absorb.
Clubs in the ~€10-20m bracket may aim for group survival and then the possibility of knockout. Their upside: enthusiasm, structure, fewer expectations. Their risk: being stretched by wealthier opponents.
The lowest-budget clubs are likely to approach Europe with caution, focusing on damage limitation, perhaps leaning on home performances, strong defensive organisation, and the “celebration factor” of being in Europe. A win or a draw against a richer club becomes a big success.

Fixture congestion, travel, rotations, and injuries all become magnified for clubs without big squads. In the Europa League, especially midweek travel, long journeys, playing at altitude or unfamiliar venues, resource advantage matters. The premium clubs can absorb that; smaller clubs will test themselves.

What to watch this season

As the Europa League unfolds, keep an eye on the following:

Group-stage surprises: Will any of the lower-wage clubs upset the higher-wage ones? These results may underscore the importance of organisation, scouting and mentality.
Depth in knockout rounds: In the round of 16, quarter-finals and beyond, fatigue, injuries and squad rotation will matter more. Clubs with larger wage bills may have an edge here.
Domestic vs European trade-offs: Some clubs may prioritise one competition. How they allocate resources will matter. A club with a mid-tier budget may choose to sacrifice a domestic match to focus on Europe, or vice versa.
Financial consequences: Clubs that advance may boost revenues (ticket sales, television, sponsorship). Lower-wage clubs that over-perform may find value; higher wage clubs that under-perform may face questions.
Long-term effect: A good run for a €10-20m wage bill club may elevate its profile and help attract players, improve infrastructure, and build momentum. A poor run for a high wage bill club may raise scrutiny, both internally and externally.