Arsenal Women Football Club has increased pay by almost 30%, according to the latest published accounts.
However the entire team still earns considerably less than some individual male players.
The total wage bill for the 2021-22 season was ยฃ4.3m, giving an average figure of ยฃ98,000 across playing and non-playing staff.
Arsenal FC said it is keen to grow the women’s game in a sustainable way.
These accounts cover the season before the England beat Germany to win the Euros, filling Wembley stadium and lifting the women’s game to new heights of popularity.
But they reflect that levels of interest and success that were already growing even before the Lionesses’s triumph. Competitive pressures were already forcing Women’s Super League teams to increase wages to attract and retain top players.
Arsenal Women’s ยฃ4.3m wage bill was spread across 44 playing and non-playing staff, up from ยฃ2.6m across 35 staff the year before.
It’s still far behind the men’s team, with a total wage bill in excess of ยฃ220m, according to Deloitte’s Football Money League.
The salaries of individual players are not declared, but England and Arsenal defender Leah Williamson is thought to be among the Women’s team highest earners, with a reported salary of ยฃ200,000.
This compares to the best-paid male players, striker Gabriel Jesus and midfielder Thomas Partey, who are reportedly paid a similar sum every week – adding up to over ยฃ10m a year.
Female and male players also have individual endorsement deals with brands such as kit makers Nike and Adidas, which will boost their earnings further. (BBC)