1. Lyle Foster – Burnley – £2.6 million per year (R54 million)
South Africa’s highest-earning footballer. Foster signed a five-year contract extension in October 2023 that doubled his salary to £50,000 per week, making him one of Burnley’s top earners and Bafana Bafana’s most valuable asset heading into the World Cup.
2. Mohau Nkota – Al-Ettifaq (Saudi Pro League) – €1,020,000 per year (R20 million)
Nkota left Orlando Pirates in July 2025 after just one senior season and landed a life-changing contract in Saudi Arabia. At 21, the figures would have seemed unthinkable for a South African player of his age just two years ago.
3. Bongokuhle Hlongwane – Minnesota United (MLS) – $1.14 million per year (R18.7 million)
Hlongwane has been one of the most consistent South African performers abroad since joining Minnesota from Maritzburg United in 2022 and is second on the club’s all-time MLS scoring charts.
4. Mbekezeli Mbokazi – Chicago Fire (MLS) – $655,620 per year (R10.9 million)
TLB arrived at Chicago Fire from Orlando Pirates in January 2026 in a deal worth $3 million. At 20, he earns more than triple the monthly salary of Ronwen Williams – the highest earner in the Betway Premiership.
MORE: TLB’s Chicago Fire salary confirmed
5. Luke le Roux – Portsmouth (Championship) – £390,000 per year (R8 million)
The Stellenbosch-born midfielder signed a three-year deal at Portsmouth in July 2025 and has been fighting for his place in a competitive Pompey midfield ever since.
6. Olwethu Makhanya – Philadelphia Union (MLS) – $338,000 per year (R5.5 million)
Makhanya started 23 of 29 matches in 2025, helping the Union record 14 clean sheets – the best defensive record in the league that season. European scouts have been monitoring his progress.
7. Puso Dithejane – Chicago Fire (MLS) – $283,252 per year (R4.6 million)
Dithejane joined Chicago Fire alongside Mbokazi under the MLS U-22 Initiative, giving Chicago two young South African talents to follow ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
8. Sphephelo Sithole – CD Tondela (Primeira Liga) – €200,000 per year (R4.1 million)
Sithole has been in Portugal since 2019 and is now in the top flight following Tondela’s promotion to the Primeira Liga. A serious leg injury on Bafana duty in 2024 threatened his career but he has since returned to action.
9. Siyabonga Ngezana – FCSB (Romania) – €180,000 per year (R3.5 million)
Ngezana has established himself as one of the best defenders in Romanian football since joining FCSB from Kaizer Chiefs in 2023, winning the SuperLiga title and being named Defender of the Year.
10. Kegs Chauke – Burton Albion (League One) – £156,000 per year (R3.2 million)
Chauke came through the Southampton academy before joining Burton Albion, where he signed a new two-year contract in 2025 and has become a regular starter in League One.
Sources: MLS Players Association official salary guide, SalaryLeaks, Capology, DigiSport Romania. All figures are gross annual salaries before tax.
Photo: Izzy Poles – AMA/Getty Images
