Athletic Bilbao continues to reward its talented Basque players with competitive wages in the 2025/26 season.
The club’s unique policy of only signing players born or trained in the Basque region makes salary management a critical part of keeping top talent at San Mamés.
With a total wage bill reaching nearly €78 million, the Lions have built one of La Liga’s most interesting pay structures around homegrown stars and carefully selected regional talents.
Athletic Bilbao Payroll
- Athletic Bilbao Weekly Payroll: €1,496,350
- Athletic Bilbao Annual Payroll: €77.8m
- Athletic Bilbao Average Annual Salary: €3m
Player Salary Breakdown
| Player Name | Weekly Salary | Annual Salary | Contract Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nico Williams | €250,000 | €12.9m | 2035 |
| Iñaki Williams | €219,300 | €11.4m | 2028 |
| Aymeric Laporte | €173,000 | €9m | 2027 |
| Unai Simón | €96,200 | €5m | 2029 |
| Jesús Areso | €86,500 | €4.5m | 2031 |
| Yuri Berchiche | €80,500 | €4.2m | 2026 |
| Oihan Sancet | €80,000 | €4.2m | 2032 |
| Dani Vivian | €70,000 | €3.7m | 2032 |
| Álex Berenguer | €57,700 | €3m | 2027 |
| Gorka Guruzeta | €46,200 | €2.4m | 2028 |
| Mikel Vesga | €46,200 | €2.4m | 2027 |
| Yeray Álvarez | €46,200 | €2.4m | 2026 |
| Aitor Paredes | €40,000 | €2m | 2029 |
| Mikel Jauregizar | €40,000 | €2m | 2031 |
| Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta | €28,800 | €1.5m | 2027 |
| Andoni Gorosabel | €28,800 | €1.5m | 2028 |
| Robert Navarro | €23,000 | €1.2m | 2030 |
| Beñat Prados | €20,000 | €1m | 2031 |
| Iñigo Lekue | €20,000 | €1m | 2026 |
| Maroan Sannadi | €19,200 | €1m | 2029 |
| Nico Serrano | €6,000 | €310k | 2028 |
| Unai Egiluz | €6,000 | €310k | 2028 |
| Unai Gómez | €4,800 | €250k | 2028 |
| Urko Izeta | €4,000 | €210k | 2027 |
| Álex Padilla | €4,000 | €210k | 2029 |
| Adama Boiro | €3,750 | €195k | 2029 |
Top Earners Lead the Wage Structure
The Williams brothers dominate Athletic Bilbao’s salary rankings. Nico Williams takes the top spot after signing a remarkable 10-year contract extension in July 2025 that keeps him at San Mamés until 2035.
His €12.9 million annual salary includes performance-related bonuses worth up to €2.5 million on top of his base pay.
Iñaki Williams follows closely as the second-highest earner at €11.4 million per year. The elder Williams brother signed his own long-term deal back in 2019 that runs through 2028.
Together, these two siblings account for roughly 30% of the Athletic Bilbao total wage bill, highlighting how important they are to the club’s on-field success and commercial appeal.
Behind the Williams brothers, defender Aymeric Laporte commands €9 million annually, making him the third-highest paid player. Goalkeeper Unai Simón earns €5 million per season, while right-back Jesús Areso brings in €4.5 million.
This top-heavy salary structure reflects Bilbao’s strategy of paying premium wages to keep their best Basque talent from leaving for bigger clubs.
The squad features significant depth at more moderate salary levels. Midfielders like Oihan Sancet (€4.2 million) and defenders such as Dani Vivian (€3.7 million) represent the club’s investment in younger players who have come through the academy system.
Several experienced squad players earn between €2 million and €3 million annually, including forwards Álex Berenguer and Gorka Guruzeta.
Athletic Bilbao Total Wage Bill
At €77.8 million, Athletic Bilbao ranks fourth among La Liga clubs in total payroll spending for 2025/26.
This figure places them well behind the league’s giants—Real Madrid (€305.4 million), Barcelona (€222 million), and Atletico Madrid (€157.3 million)—but comfortably ahead of most other Spanish clubs.
The average player salary sits at €3 million per season, which is quite high relative to the club’s finishing positions in recent years. Athletic Bilbao has only finished in the top six three times over the past decade, yet their players rank as the sixth-best paid in La Liga.
This apparent mismatch reflects the unique economics of their Basque-only recruitment policy.
Because the club limits itself to players born or trained in the Basque Country, they face a much smaller talent pool than their rivals. To compete with Europe’s biggest clubs for these limited players, Bilbao must offer attractive wages.
The club also benefits from spending very little on transfer fees—just €20 million in 2023/24—which allows them to redirect resources toward player salaries.
Spanish labor law also sets a floor for first-team wages. Athletic Bilbao must pay at least €195,000 per season to every player on the senior squad. This minimum ensures even the youngest squad members earn respectable salaries compared to lower-tier Spanish clubs.
The wage structure creates financial stability despite the high average salary. Athletic Bilbao remains one of only three clubs never relegated from La Liga since the league’s founding in 1929.
Their disciplined approach to recruitment and player development has kept the club competitive both on the pitch and in the balance sheet.
FAQs
1. What is Athletic Bilbao’s total wage bill for 2025/26?
The club’s current wage bill is €77.8 million for the 2025/26 season. This amount covers only first-team player salaries and doesn’t include bonuses, academy player wages, or coaching staff compensation.
2. Who is the highest paid player at Athletic Bilbao?
Nico Williams is the highest paid player at the club, earning €12.9 million per year. He signed a new 10-year contract in July 2025 that keeps him at Athletic Bilbao until 2035. His deal includes base salary plus performance bonuses.
3. Why do Athletic Bilbao players earn such high salaries?
The club follows a unique Basque-only policy, signing players who were born or trained in the Basque region. This limits their talent pool significantly, so they must offer competitive wages to keep top players from joining bigger clubs. Bilbao also spends very little on transfers, allowing more money for salaries.
4. What is the average salary at Athletic Bilbao?
The average player earns €3 million per season at Athletic Bilbao. This figure excludes performance bonuses and only accounts for base salaries across the 26-player first-team squad.
5. Do the Williams brothers really cost 30% of the wage bill?
Yes, Nico and Iñaki Williams together earn approximately €24.3 million per year, which represents about 31% of Athletic Bilbao’s €77.8 million total payroll. Their combined salaries reflect their importance as the club’s biggest stars.
