Saleh Hardani has grown from a Foolad youth product into one of Iranian football’s most consistent right-backs — now wearing the blue of Esteghlal FC and earning senior Iran caps in World Cup qualifying.
At 27, he carries a career spanning four clubs, three league titles, and 16 international appearances.
This article covers everything verified about Saleh Hardani’s net worth, including his current salary at Esteghlal, contract terms, career earnings timeline, and what makes him one of the more financially established right-backs currently operating in the Persian Gulf Pro League.
Saleh Hardani’s Biography
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Saleh Hardani (صالح حردانی) |
| Date of Birth | December 26, 1998 |
| Age | 27 |
| Birthplace | Bahmaei, Iran |
| Nationality | Iranian |
| Height / Weight | 176 cm / 70 kg (5 ft 9 in / 154 lbs) |
| Position | Right-Back |
| Current Club | Esteghlal FC |
| Shirt Number | 2 |
| Agent | PIFA |
| Turned Professional | 2019 |
| Contract Expires | June 30, 2027 |
| Estimated Net Worth | ~$700,000 |
| Market Value | €700,000 (Transfermarkt, 2026) |
| Family | Younger brother of footballer Saber Hardani |
Early Life & Career
Saleh Hardani was born on December 26, 1998, in Bahmaei — a city in southwestern Iran.
He is the younger brother of Saber Hardani, who also pursued a professional football career, making the Hardani family one of Iranian football’s football-playing sibling pairings.
Growing up in southwestern Iran placed him close to Khuzestan Province — the heartland of Iranian club football and home to Foolad Khuzestan, one of the country’s most established Pro League clubs.
This geography shaped his development pathway, and he entered the Foolad system as a young player before working his way toward a senior debut.
Hardani turned professional in the summer of 2019 when Foolad Khuzestan registered him as a senior squad member ahead of the 2019–20 Persian Gulf Pro League season.
He made his top-flight debut that season as a 20-year-old, playing 15 league matches alongside 1 cup appearance in his first professional campaign.
His athleticism down the right flank and ability to contribute both defensively and in attack made him a natural fit in a back line that needed energy and versatility.
Professional Career
Hardani’s second season at Foolad — 2020–21 — was a career-defining one. He appeared in 33 games across all competitions, scoring 1 league goal, 1 Hazfi Cup goal, and 1 AFC Champions League goal — a well-rounded contribution from a right-back in his second full professional season.
More importantly, Foolad won the 2020–21 Persian Gulf Pro League title, earning Hardani his first major honour in club football.
He continued at Foolad through the early part of 2021–22 before completing a free transfer to Esteghlal FC in February 2022, making him part of the Tehran club’s second half of the season push. He settled quickly, contributing 15 appearances and 1 goal in that partial season.
Over the following two seasons at Esteghlal, Hardani established himself as a key first-team asset.
He totalled 91 league appearances for the club across his stints and appeared in 10 AFC Champions League matches — a mark of his importance in Asian competition.
With Esteghlal, he won the 2021–22 Persian Gulf Pro League title and the 2022–23 Iranian Super Cup, per FotMob’s trophy records.
In July 2024, he joined Sepahan FC on a free transfer — making 12 league starts and 19 total appearances through the first half of 2024–25.
Then, in January 2025, he returned to Esteghlal for a second stint, as documented in Transfermarkt’s transfer history, completing a move that reunited him with a club where he had already played over 90 league games.
In the 2025–26 season, he has made 17 league and 24 total appearances through the campaign’s midpoint, plus 6 AFC matches.
Internationally, Hardani earned his first senior Iran cap in September 2021 as a substitute in a 2022 World Cup qualifier.
He returned to the fold more regularly from 2024 onwards, accumulating 16 senior caps and 1 international goal — scored in a 2026 World Cup qualifier in November 2024.
Saleh Hardani’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Saleh Hardani’s has an estimated net worth of $700,000.
He built this through seven years of professional contracts at Foolad FC, two stints at Esteghlal FC, and a half-season at Sepahan — supplemented by AFC Champions League bonuses and Iran national team fees.
Contract
Hardani returned to Esteghlal on a free transfer in January 2025 and signed a deal running through June 30, 2027, per Flashscore and AiScore.
The two-year term gives Esteghlal stability at right-back through the end of the 2026–27 season. His agent PIFA — confirmed on Transfermarkt’s profile — negotiated the deal.
The contract terms were not publicly disclosed, but his market value of €700,000 on Transfermarkt and €725,000 on Flashscore position him as a mid-to-senior value asset within Esteghlal’s squad.
AiScore independently values him at €550,000, reflecting a well-established senior Pro League right-back at this stage of his career.
For broader wage benchmarks across Iranian top-flight clubs, this Iran football players salary guide maps comparable profiles.
Salary
Exact salary figures for Hardani’s Esteghlal deal have not been publicly confirmed. However, his market value, combined with his national team status and experience at one of Iran’s biggest clubs, places him within a clear salary band for senior right-backs in the Persian Gulf Pro League.
First-choice defenders at top-tier Iranian clubs typically earn between $80,000 and $130,000 per year based on available benchmarks.
His Esteghlal contract — with the club ranking among Iran’s top-paid squads — puts him toward the mid-to-upper range of that window.
His international appearances also bring additional federation income per game, adding meaningful supplementary earnings across a full qualifying cycle.
ESPN’s Saleh Hardani career page confirms his standing as an active Esteghlal squad member heading into 2026.
Career Earnings By Year
| Season | Club | Apps (All Comps) | Goals | Approx. Annual Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | Foolad Khuzestan | 16 | 0 | ~$35,000 (est.) |
| 2020–21 | Foolad Khuzestan | 33 | 3 | ~$50,000 (est.) |
| 2021–22 | Foolad + Esteghlal | 14 + 15 = 29 | 1 | ~$70,000 (est.) |
| 2022–23 | Esteghlal | ~30 | 1 | ~$100,000 (est.) |
| 2023–24 | Esteghlal | ~38 | 1 | ~$110,000 (est.) |
| 2024–25 | Sepahan + Esteghlal | 19 + partial = ~30 | 0 | ~$95,000 (est.) |
| 2025–26 | Esteghlal | 24+ | 0 | ~$110,000 (est.) |
| Career Total | ~199+ | 6 | ~$570,000+ (est.) |
Career Statistics
| Season | Club | Competition | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | Foolad Khuzestan | Pro League + Cup | 16 | 0 |
| 2020–21 | Foolad Khuzestan | Pro League + Cup + AFC | 33 | 3 |
| 2021–22 | Foolad Khuzestan | Pro League | 14 | 0 |
| 2021–22 | Esteghlal FC (from Feb) | Pro League + Cup | 15 | 1 |
| 2022–23 | Esteghlal FC | Pro League + Cup | ~30 | 1 |
| 2023–24 | Esteghlal FC | Pro League + Cup + AFC | ~38 | 1 |
| 2024–25 | Sepahan FC | Pro League + Cup + AFC | 19 | 0 |
| 2025–26 | Esteghlal FC | Pro League + Cup + AFC | 24 | 0 |
| Career Total (All Comps) | ~189+ | 6 |
International Career
| Year | Team | Competition | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Iran | WC 2022 Qualifiers | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 | Iran | WC 2022 Qualifier (sub) | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | Iran | Friendly (sub) | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | Iran | WC 2026 Qualifiers | 7 | 1 |
| 2025 | Iran | WC 2026 Qualifiers + Friendlies | 6 | 0 |
| Total | 16 | 1 |
FAQs
What is Saleh Hardani’s net worth?
Saleh Hardani’s estimated net worth is approximately $700,000. He built this through professional contracts at Foolad Khuzestan, two stints at Esteghlal FC, and Sepahan, plus Iran national team fees.
What club does Saleh Hardani play?
He plays for Esteghlal FC in the Persian Gulf Pro League, having re-signed on a free transfer. His current contract runs through June 30, 2027, confirmed by both AiScore and Flashscore.
How many international caps does Saleh Hardani have?
He has earned 16 senior Iran caps and scored 1 international goal — World Cup qualifier against Qatar in November 2024. He has been a regular part of Iran’s qualifying squad since 2024.
What trophies has Saleh Hardani won?
He won the Persian Gulf Pro League title with both Foolad Khuzestan (2020–21) and Esteghlal FC (2021–22), plus the Iranian Super Cup twice — with Esteghlal in 2022–23 and Sepahan in 2024–25.
Is Saleh Hardani related to another Iranian footballer?
Yes. He is the younger brother of Saber Hardani, who also played professional football in Iran. The Hardani brothers represent one of Iranian football’s notable sibling connections.
