Highest-Paid Players in the Scottish Premiership

The Scottish Premiership was once one of the strongest leagues in world football, with the likes of Celtic and Rangers thriving in European competitions. The former even won the European Cup in 1967 when Jock Stein’s side reigned victorious in Lisbon.

Over the years, though, the league hasn’t been able to generate as much money as others and thus has got weaker and weaker. That said, some big names have been convinced to move to Scotland, with Kasper Schmeichel, Kieran Tierney and Jack Butland all competing in the league at the time of writing.

After former Arsenal, Liverpool and England star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made the move to the Scottish Premiership as he joined Celtic, the highest-paid players in the league have emerged, with the majority of data provided by Salary Leaks.

17-12

Dujon Sterling signed a four-year deal with Rangers in 2023 as he made the transfer from Chelsea. The Englishman has suffered from numerous injuries during his time in Scotland, and it remains to be seen whether he will be given an extension.

Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland is the only player on this list that doesn’t play for Celtic or Rangers. The Scotland international has been brilliant since signing for the club in 2022. He’s scored goals at an impressive level and could fire his side to their first league title since 1960.

He earns £25,000-per-week, as does Rangers duo Nedim Bejrami and Bojan Miovski, as well as Celtic’s Benjamin Nugren and Alistair Johnson.

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Four players in Scotland’s top tier earn £30,000-per-week, and they all star for Rangers. Jack Butland was tipped to have a brilliant career and made nine appearances for England during his early days in professional football. He was unable to live up to his lofty potential, though, and moved up north to Rangers in 2023. He has been a reliable figure in goal ever since.

James Tavernier, one of the highest scoring defenders in football history, earns the same amount, as does Max Aarons, who is spending the season on loan from Bournemouth, and Yousseff Chermiti.

United States international Auston Trusty is paid £32,000-per-week after making the move from Sheffield United in 2024, while former Man City striker Kelechi Iheanacho earns just more than his teammate. The Nigerian has not lived up to his lofty wages, yet, after having a torrid time with injuries since joining in the summer of 2025.

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The top seven consists solely of Celtic players. Three of their players earn £37,000 every seven days: Cameron Carter-Vickers, Jota and club captain Callum McGregor.

McGregor has spent virtually his entire career at Celtic, with his only stint away from his boyhood club coming in 2013/14 when he spent the campaign on loan in England with Notts County. The veteran, alongside Carter-Vickers, was named in the Scottish Premiership Team of the Year in 2024/25.

Tierney turned heads when he burst onto the scene with Celtic in 2015. He was tipped for big things in the Premier League when he signed for Arsenal, but multiple injuries hindered his stint in England. He returned to Celtic in 2025, with him earning £50,000-per-week.

Tierney was comfortably the highest-paid player in the Scottish Premiership, until Oxlade-Chamberlain joined on a short-term deal in February 2026. The Englishman, who has been capped 35 times by his country, signed a £55,000-per-week contract, according to Transfer Feed.

All data via SalaryLeaks unless stated. Correct as of 24/02/2026.