Charles Pickel is one of the most dependable defensive midfielders in European football right now.
This article breaks down his estimated net worth, current contract at Espanyol, career earnings, and what makes this Swiss-born Congolese midfielder one of the most interesting players at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Charles Pickel’s Biography
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Charles Monginda Pickel |
| Date of Birth | May 15, 1997 |
| Age | 29 |
| Place of Birth | Solothurn, Switzerland |
| Nationality | DR Congo / Switzerland (dual) |
| Height | 1.87 m |
| Weight | 76 kg |
| Position | Defensive Midfielder |
| Current Club | RCD Espanyol (on loan from US Cremonese) |
| Turned Professional | December 2015 |
| Market Value | €2.50 million (Transfermarkt, 2026) |
| Estimated Net Worth | ~$2 million |
| Annual Salary | €1.5 million base / up to €1.9 million with bonuses |
| Kit Sponsor | Adidas |
Early Life and Career
Charles Monginda Pickel was born on May 15, 1997, in Solothurn, a city in northern Switzerland. He holds dual Swiss and Congolese citizenship, having been born to parents of Congolese descent.
Growing up in Switzerland, Pickel had access to one of Europe’s best youth football systems, and he took full advantage of it.
He started his youth football journey at FC Solothurn, a local club in his home city. His talent caught the eye of scouts from Switzerland’s biggest club, and in the summer of 2011, Pickel joined the FC Basel academy at just 14 years old.
Basel’s development setup is world-class — it has produced players like Granit Xhaka and Mohamed Salah — and Pickel thrived within it.
He progressed steadily through the Basel U-16, U-17, and U-18 teams, eventually reaching the U-21 side in 2015. On December 23, 2015, he signed a two-and-a-half-year professional contract with Basel.
During this period, he also represented Switzerland at youth level, earning caps for the U-15, U-18, U-19, and U-20 national teams.
His last appearance for Switzerland U-20 came in March 2018 against Italy, where Switzerland won 3–2.
Professional Career
Pickel made his Swiss Super League debut on May 16, 2016, when Basel first-team coach Urs Fischer handed him his senior bow against Luzern.
Although Basel lost that match 0–4, the club went on to clinch the Swiss Super League title that season — their seventh consecutive championship and 19th overall — meaning Pickel collected his first senior medal in his debut campaign.
He moved to Grasshopper Club Zürich in March 2017 on a four-and-a-half-year deal, making his debut there in a 1–1 draw with Luzern. He spent time on loan at Neuchâtel Xamax and FC Winterthur during this period, gaining valuable first-team minutes.
In July 2019, he transferred to Grenoble Foot 38 in France’s Ligue 2, taking his game to a higher competitive level.
His profile rose sharply when he joined FC Famalicão in Portugal’s Primeira Liga in August 2021 for a reported €1.5 million fee. A year later, Serie A newly-promoted side US Cremonese signed him for €3.8 million, the highest transfer fee of his career.
He went on to make 97 league appearances for Cremonese across Serie A and Serie B, scoring six goals and providing two assists, becoming one of the club’s most important midfielders.
In August 2025, La Liga side Espanyol took him on loan for the 2025–26 season. He made his La Liga debut against Mallorca on September 15, 2025, and went on to make 24 appearances and score 1 goal in the Spanish top flight.
Internationally, Pickel switched allegiance from Switzerland to DR Congo in 2023. He debuted for the Leopards on September 9, 2023, in a 2–0 win over Sudan in AFCON qualification, even registering an assist on his debut.
He played all six matches as DR Congo reached fourth place at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.
In May 2026, coach Sébastien Desabre named him in DR Congo’s 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first World Cup of Pickel’s senior career.
Charles Pickel’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Charles Pickel’s has an estimated net worth of approximately $2 million.
He built this through a decade of professional football across Switzerland, France, Portugal, Italy, and Spain — climbing from modest Swiss Super League wages to a €1.5 million annual base salary in La Liga.
Contract
Pickel’s current arrangement at Espanyol is a one-year loan from parent club US Cremonese. He signed the loan deal on August 27, 2025, with the contract running until June 30, 2026.
His registration at Espanyol is tied to his loan agreement, and his contractual ownership remains with Cremonese.
Whether Espanyol pursue a permanent deal or Pickel returns to Cremonese after the World Cup remains to be seen — his contract at Cremonese has not been publicly detailed beyond the loan period.
Salary
Charles Pickel earns a base salary of €1.5 million per year at Espanyol — approximately €28,800 per week. He can earn an additional €374,400 per year in performance bonuses, bringing his maximum annual compensation at the club to around €1.9 million.
This represents the peak salary of his career to date and reflects both his reliability as a starting-quality defensive midfielder in La Liga and the competitive nature of Spanish football wages.
Career Earnings By Year
| Season | Club | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–16 | FC Basel | Swiss Super League | Undisclosed |
| 2017–19 | Grasshopper Club | Swiss Super League | Undisclosed |
| 2019–21 | Grenoble Foot 38 | Ligue 2 | Undisclosed |
| 2021–22 | FC Famalicão | Primeira Liga | Undisclosed |
| 2022–25 | US Cremonese | Serie A / Serie B | Undisclosed |
| 2025–26 | RCD Espanyol | La Liga | €1.5M base / €1.9M max |
Career Statistics
| Season | Club | Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–16 | FC Basel | Swiss Super League | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017–18 | Grasshopper | Swiss Super League | Multiple | — | — |
| 2018–19 | Neuchâtel Xamax | Swiss Super League | Multiple | — | — |
| 2019–21 | Grenoble Foot 38 | Ligue 2 | Multiple | — | — |
| 2021–22 | FC Famalicão | Primeira Liga | Multiple | — | — |
| 2022–25 | US Cremonese | Serie A / Serie B | 97 | 6 | 2 |
| 2025–26 | RCD Espanyol | La Liga | 24 | 1 | 0 |
| DR Congo (Total) | National Team | Various | 34 | 1 | — |
FAQs
What is Charles Pickel’s net worth?
Charles Pickel’s estimated net worth is approximately $2 million. He built this through contracts in Switzerland, France, Portugal, Italy, and now La Liga with Espanyol, where he earns €1.5 million annually.
How much does Charles Pickel earn per week?
He earns around €28,800 per week in base salary at Espanyol. With bonuses included, his weekly earnings can rise further, with his full annual package worth up to €1.9 million.
Is Charles Pickel playing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Yes. Coach Sébastien Desabre included him in DR Congo’s 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It is his first senior World Cup appearance. DR Congo compete in Group K alongside Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan.
What clubs has Charles Pickel played for?
He has played for FC Basel, Grasshopper Club, Neuchâtel Xamax, FC Winterthur (loan), Grenoble Foot 38, FC Famalicão, US Cremonese, and RCD Espanyol (on loan). His full transfer history is documented on Transfermarkt.
What nationality does Charles Pickel play for internationally?
He plays for DR Congo. Although he was born in Switzerland and represented Swiss youth teams up to U-20 level, he switched international allegiance to DR Congo in 2023. He has earned 34 senior caps for the Leopards.
