Lens move up to 11th highest wage bill as Sang & Or push for Europe

L’Équipe have today released figures on each Ligue 1 club’s wage bill and the top earning players. Despite having the 18th highest salary bill in 2020-2021, Lens’ wage bill moved up to 14th last season and is now in 11th place with a salary bill of 23.3 million euros. The club’s goal is reportedly to reach eighth place, behind the untouchable giants Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Lille, Rennes, Nice, and Monaco. The recent wave of contract extensions is not the only reason for this development.

The highest paid players at RC Lens: 

The renewed contracts of Jean-Louis Leca (2024), Massadio Haïdara (2025), Yannick Pandor (2026), Jonathan Gradit (2026), Wesley Saïd (2026), Facundo Medina (2026), Florian Sotoca (2026), Deiver Machado (2026), David Pereira Da Costa (2026), and even Seko Fofana (2025) at the end of August last year, as well as Franck Haise’s (2027) extension, have significantly contributed to this trend.

At least nine players in the squad (excluding Claude-Maurice, who is on loan from Nice without an option to buy) will earn at least 100,000 euros gross per month starting from July 1, 2023, excluding any bonuses other than the ethics bonus. Additionally, Haise will now earn 110,000 euros. This is a significant shift in the club’s spending over the last season.

However, this gradual increase in salaries is attributable to several factors. The club’s revenue has increased, as has its standing in Ligue 1. The number of TV appearances has multiplied, and their notoriety index has thus increased over the past five years. Finally, the team’s performances in the championship have raised the entire squad’s value. The club’s summer sales also generated net profits, from Jonathan Clauss to Cheick Doucouré, as well as Christopher Wooh, Simon Banza, Ignitius Ganago, Corentin Jean, and Patrick Berg. 

GFFN | George Boxall