As a home World Cup beckons for Mauricio Pochettino’s team, there’s been a clear movement in the valuation of the players involved.

Salaries

From Christian Pulisic to Folarin Balogun: These are the highest paid USMNT players

Calum Roche

Managing Editor AS USA

Sports-lover turned journalist, born and bred in Scotland, with a passion for football (soccer). He’s also a keen follower of NFL, NBA, golf and tennis, among others, and always has an eye on the latest in science, tech and current affairs. As Managing Editor at AS USA, uses background in operations and marketing to drive improvements for reader satisfaction.

Update: May 9th, 2026 08:13 EDT

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When it comes to salaries, bonuses and other positive bumps to player bank accounts, caution needs to be taken as often we don’t have the full picture. That said, based on the information that I’ve been able to get my hands on, Christian Pulisic remains the highest-paid player in the USMNT pool. However, the gap is closing fast as a new wave of Americans turns major European moves into major contracts.

The AC Milan winger is said to earn an estimated $6.03 million in gross fixed salary for the 2025-26 season, excluding bonuses. All figures below have been converted into U.S. dollars for consistency, with exchange rates taken into account.

Pulisic still leads the USMNT salary rankings

Pulisic’s earnings keep him narrowly ahead of Malik Tillman, whose move to Bayer Leverkusen came with an estimated $5.55 million annual salary. Timothy Weah follows at roughly $5.35 million after his switch to Marseille, while Johnny Cardoso’s jump to Atlético Madrid places him just behind at about $4.90 million.

That cluster alone says plenty about the direction of travel. Not long ago, Pulisic’s contract existed in a tier of its own. Now, multiple U.S. internationals are operating in the same financial bracket, with several still years away from their peak.

Highest-paid USMNT players

Christian Pulisic, AC Milan: $6.03m
Malik Tillman, Bayer Leverkusen: $5.55m
Timothy Weah, Marseille: $5.35m
Johnny Cardoso, Atlético Madrid: $4.90m
Sergiño Dest, PSV: $4.61m
Tyler Adams, Bournemouth: $4.25m
Antonee Robinson, Fulham: $4.25m
Folarin Balogun, Monaco: $3.79m
Weston McKennie, Juventus: $3.78m
Brenden Aaronson, Leeds United: $3.18m
Yunus Musah, Atalanta: $3.01m
Matt Turner, New England Revolution: $1.78m
Giovanni Reyna, Borussia Mönchengladbach: $1.33m

USMNT transfer fees are changing

The salary list reflects a broader shift in how American players are valued globally.

Pulisic’s $74.1 million move from Borussia Dortmund to Chelsea in 2019 remains the benchmark, but the next wave is closing in. Folarin Balogun’s transfer to Monaco, Johnny Cardoso’s move to Atlético Madrid and Malik Tillman’s switch to Bayer Leverkusen all reinforce the same trend: U.S. players are no longer outliers in the eight-figure market.

Even deals slightly below that threshold carry weight. Patrick Agyemang’s move from Charlotte FC to Derby County, reported at around $8 million, ranks among the most significant fees ever for an MLS SuperDraft pick.

From Christian Pulisic to Folarin Balogun: These are the highest paid USMNT players

Help build Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT roster for the 2026 World Cup

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USA deeper pool ahead of 2026

What stands out is not just the top number, but the depth beneath it.

Players like Tyler Adams, Antonee Robinson and Sergiño Dest are firmly established in Europe’s top leagues with salaries to match. Younger names such as Tillman, Musah and Balogun are already earning at levels that once required years of Champions League experience.

For a U.S. team building toward the 2026 World Cup on home soil, that shift matters. Pulisic remains the headline figure, but the supporting cast is no longer catching up. It has already arrived.