Aaron Mooy is one of Australia’s most celebrated footballers — a technically gifted central midfielder who played across four continents over 13 professional years before retiring in June 2023.
From the A-League to the English Premier League, the Chinese Super League, and the Scottish Premiership, Mooy’s journey is a story of consistent excellence.
This article covers everything you need to know about how he made his money — his salary, contracts, career earnings, and personal life.
Aaron Mooy’s Biography
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Aaron Frank Mooy (born Aaron Frank Kuhlman) |
| Date of Birth | 15 September 1990 |
| Age (2026) | 35 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Height | 174 cm (5 ft 9 in) |
| Position | Central Midfielder (Retired) |
| Last Club | Celtic FC (Scottish Premiership) |
| Turned Professional | 2009 |
| Estimated Net Worth | $5 million |
| Gross Career Earnings | ~$12.5 million |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Spouse | Nicola Mooy (married 2018) |
| Children | Maximilian and Skylar |
| Outfitter | Nike |
| @aaronmooy |
Early Life & Career
Aaron Mooy was born on 15 September 1990 in Sydney, Australia. He was born Aaron Frank Kuhlman and later adopted his stepfather’s surname, Mooy.
He honed his early football skills through the New South Wales Institute of Sport before earning a youth trial with Bolton Wanderers in England.
Although Bolton never offered him a first-team pathway, the experience of training in Europe gave him a technical foundation that shaped the rest of his development.
Mooy made his professional debut at Scottish Premiership club St Mirren around 2009, gaining valuable senior experience in a competitive league environment before returning home.
He joined Western Sydney Wanderers in 2012 and spent two seasons there, making 54 appearances and scoring 5 goals across all competitions.
His ability to control the tempo of play, deliver set pieces with precision, and contribute defensively made him one of the most complete midfielders in Australian football.
In 2014, he moved to Melbourne City, where his career truly took off. Over two seasons at City, Mooy made 58 appearances and scored 24 goals — an extraordinary return for a central midfielder.
His performances caught the attention of top European clubs, and by 2016, Manchester City had seen enough to bring him to the Premier League.
Professional Career
Manchester City signed Mooy in the summer of 2016, but he made no senior appearances for the first team.
Instead, he was immediately loaned to Championship side Huddersfield Town, where he was one of the most important players in a historic promotion campaign.
Mooy played 51 matches and scored 4 goals that season, including a crucial role in the playoff final victory over Reading that sent Huddersfield into the Premier League for the first time in their history.
As Sky Sports reported, Huddersfield made the deal permanent in June 2017 for an initial £8 million, with add-ons taking the potential fee to £10 million — making Mooy the most expensive Australian footballer ever sold at that time.
He spent three seasons in the Premier League with the Terriers, accumulating 69 appearances and 7 goals before a move to Brighton & Hove Albion on loan in 2020.
Later that year, he joined Chinese Super League giants Shanghai Port (then SIPG) on a lucrative deal.
In July 2022, Mooy signed a free transfer with Celtic, reuniting with former Socceroos manager Ange Postecoglou.
It proved a fairy-tale final chapter. He played 42 matches and scored 7 goals in all competitions, helping Celtic win a domestic treble — the Scottish Premiership, Scottish Cup, and Scottish League Cup.
He also starred at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where Australia reached the Round of 16, making him one of the most decorated Australian players of his generation.
On 29 June 2023, Mooy announced his retirement from both club and international football, citing a persistent back problem.
Wife
Aaron Mooy married Nicola Mooy in 2018, after dating for several years. The couple have two children together — a son named Maximilian and a daughter named Skylar.
Nicola is active on Instagram under the handle @nicolamooy, where she has shared family moments throughout Aaron’s career.
Since his retirement, the family has returned to life in Australia, away from the demands of professional football.
Aaron Mooy’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Aaron Mooy has an estimated net worth of $5 million.
He built this wealth through a 13-year professional career spanning Australia, England, China, and Scotland, earning across multiple club contracts and commercial partnerships.
This figure accounts for gross career earnings, minus income taxes across multiple countries, agent fees, and lifestyle costs.
According to Capology’s football salary tracker, Mooy earned an estimated $12,556,323 gross throughout his professional club career. That figure does not include international match fees or bonuses.
After taxes — which in the UK can reach upward of 45% for top earners — and other personal expenditures, a net worth of $5 million is a realistic and conservative estimate.
Contract
Mooy’s most financially rewarding contract came at Shanghai Port, where he reportedly earned around £3 million per year — one of the highest salaries ever recorded by an Australian footballer playing in Asia.
When he moved to Celtic in July 2022, he voluntarily accepted a salary reduction, signing a two-year deal worth approximately £1.2 million per year, as noted on his Wikipedia profile.
His contract was active through the 2023-24 season, but his retirement in June 2023 ended it one year early.
His £8 million Huddersfield transfer fee, which could rise to £10 million with add-ons, was a record for an Australian player and underlined how highly European clubs rated him by his late 20s.
Salary
During his Premier League years at Huddersfield Town, Mooy earned approximately £35,000 per week — a figure reported by SBS Sport during his transfer speculation period.
His wages at Shanghai Port were his career peak in terms of weekly pay, estimated at around £57,700 per week (£3 million annually).
At Celtic, his salary dropped to approximately £23,000 per week (£1.2 million annually), a figure consistent with data from FootyStats, which pegs his annual salary at that club at €1,353,561.
Career Earnings by Year
| Season | Club | Est. Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 2016–17 | Huddersfield Town (loan) | ~£1.82 million |
| 2017–18 | Huddersfield Town | ~£1.82 million |
| 2018–19 | Huddersfield Town | ~£1.82 million |
| 2019–20 | Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) | ~£1.82 million |
| 2020–21 | Shanghai Port | ~£3 million |
| 2021–22 | Shanghai Port | ~£3 million |
| 2022–23 | Celtic FC | ~£1.2 million |
Career Statistics
| Club | Period | Apps (All Comps) | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Sydney Wanderers | 2012–14 | 54 | 5 |
| Melbourne City | 2014–16 | 58 | 24 |
| Huddersfield Town (loan) | 2016–17 | 51 | 4 |
| Huddersfield Town | 2017–20 | 69 | 7 |
| Shanghai Port (SIPG) | 2020–22 | 31 | 6 |
| Celtic FC | 2022–23 | 42 | 7 |
| Career Total (Club) | 2009–2023 | 367 | 57 |
| Australia (National Team) | 2012–22 | 57 | 7 |
FAQs
What is Aaron Mooy’s net worth?
Aaron Mooy’s estimated net worth in 2026 is $5 million. He earned this through professional contracts in England, China, and Scotland, with gross career earnings estimated at over $12.5 million by Capology.
Why did Aaron Mooy retire from football?
Mooy retired in June 2023 at age 32 due to an ongoing back injury. He announced the decision through Celtic’s official website, saying he felt “the time is right” after 15 years in the game.
What trophies did Aaron Mooy win during his career?
Mooy won a domestic treble with Celtic in 2022-23 — the Scottish Premiership, Scottish Cup, and Scottish League Cup. He also helped Huddersfield Town earn Premier League promotion in 2017 via the Championship playoffs.
How many caps did Aaron Mooy earn for Australia?
Mooy earned 57 caps for the Socceroos between 2012 and 2022, scoring 7 international goals. He represented Australia at two FIFA World Cups — Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.
What was Aaron Mooy’s highest-ever salary?
Mooy’s highest salary came during his time at Shanghai Port in the Chinese Super League, where he reportedly earned approximately £3 million per year — around £57,700 per week — between 2020 and 2022.
