Kieran Tierney is Celtic’s highest-earning player in 2026-27 with a reported weekly wage of £50,000 and 888sport look at the total squad wage bill and reported salaries.
Readers can find the latest Scottish football betting odds at 888sport, with the new season fast approaching and Celtic may yet add another lucrative talent to the squad before the transfer window closes.
Celtic’s Highest Paid Players (2026-27)
- Kieran Tierney: £50,000 per week
- Callum McGregor: £39,000 per week
- Cameron Carter-Vickers: £37,000 per week
- Arne Engels: £28,000 per week
- Alistair Johnston: £20,000 per week
- James Forrest: £20,000 per week
Celtic’s annual wage bill is expected to be around £25 million in 2026-27. Their total spend on wages is regularly more than the top flight’s non-Old Firm clubs combined, highlighting the financial disparity between Celtic and Rangers and the rest of Scottish football.
Kieran Tierney: £50,000
Tierney has been Celtic’s highest-earning player since he signed in 2025. The Scotland international took a reported pay cut to return to his home country after a prolonged stint with Arsenal.
Callum McGregor: £39,000
Celtic captain Callum McGregor has the second-highest weekly wage. Well into his 30s, McGregor remains the heartbeat of the team. He’s won 26 major trophies with the club and been named in the Team of the Year on four occasions.
Cameron Carter-Vickers: £37,000
Cameron Carter-Vickers had several loans after coming through the ranks at Tottenham. It was at Celtic where he really settled, though, making the move permanent in 2022. The USA international has three Team of the Year selections.
Celtic vs Rangers wage bill comparison
Celtic salaries sit in a different financial world from almost every Scottish Premiership rival, but Rangers are the obvious comparison point.
SalarySport lists Rangers on a weekly wage bill of $705,029 and a yearly total of $36,661,529, which converts to roughly £611,111 per week and £31.8m per year at the current exchange rate.
That still leaves Celtic well ahead in squad-spending terms, and the difference helps explain why the Old Firm dominates the title race most seasons.
Celtic can pay for proven Scottish players, returning academy products, and a handful of higher-cost recruits, while the rest of the league are forced to work with far tighter budgets.
Celtic vs European clubs: why Champions League is so hard
Celtic's wage bill is below Cagliari (Serie A), FC Köln (Bundesliga), Strasbourg (Ligue 1), Getafe (La Liga) - and far below every Premier League club. At Arsenal, Tierney earned £60,000 per week; his Celtic deal of £50,000 per week represents only a small drop, helped by a free transfer enabling Celtic's wage stretch.
That is why Celtic can be a giant at home and still feel squeezed in Europe. Celtic salaries buy dominance in Scotland, but the club is still competing against teams with far deeper financial wells when the Champions League anthem starts playing. Their finances can’t compare to those of the richest football clubs in the world.
Celtic Salary FAQs:
Who is the highest-paid Celtic player?
Kieran Tierney is Celtic’s highest-paid player. The former Arsenal man is on a reported £50,000 per week.
What is Celtic's wage bill?
Celtic's annual wage bill is approximately £26 million before bonuses - more than the combined total of the 8 other Scottish Premiership clubs outside the Old Firm.
How does Tierney's Celtic salary compare to Arsenal?
Tierney earned £60,000 a week at Arsenal, plus bonuses. His Celtic wage of £50,000 a week represents only a modest drop.
How do Celtic's wages compare to European peers?
Celtic's wage bill is lower than mid-table clubs in Italy, Germany, France and Spain - including Cagliari, FC Köln, Strasbourg and Getafe - and far below every Premier League club.
Scottish Premiership odds at 888sport
Celtic's financial edge is one reason they are usually priced as clear favourites in the Scottish Premiership market, but Safer Gambling still matters more than chasing a short price.
If you want to bet, keep it measured, check the terms carefully, and remember that wagering requirements, minimum deposit and minimum stake rules can all apply. For support and advice, visit www.begambleaware.org.
